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Duluth and St. Louis County
Minnesota
Their Story and People
An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular
Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial,
Industrial, Educational, Civic and
Social Development
Prepared under the Editorial Supervision of
WALTER VAN BRUNT
Assisted by a Board of Advisory Editors
ISSUED IN THREE VOLUMES
VOLUME III
ILLUSTRATED
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CHICAGO and NEW YORK
1921
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41348A
Copyright li^ai
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Chicago and New York
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History of
Duluth and St. Louis County
David T. Adams, of Chicago, formerly of Duluth, is a pioneer of the
Iron Range country whose services would justify full representation in
any volume of biography devoted to this region.
The editor and compilers of this History of St. Louis County are
indebted to Mr. Adams for a manuscript account of his experiences as
an explorer and discoverer of the Mesaba Range. Generous use has
been made of this manuscript in preparing the history of the region, and
it is appropriate that at this point some credit should be given in the way
of reference to the more important chapters where his contributions as a
historian may be read. Some of these subtitles are : History of the
Mesaba Range; History of Pioneer Activities in Biwabik, McKinley,
Merritt, and Pioneer Mining in Biwabik Township ; History of the
Incorporated Villages of Virginia and Eveleth, and History of Mining
in the Virginia and Eveleth District; The Incorporated City of Eveleth
and City of Virginia.
A former publication on the iron ranges in Minnesota justly stated:
"Considering all the results accruing from his work, it may be said with
little fear of contradiction that no single individual contributed more
toward bringing about the phenomenal changes which took place on the
Range during the early years of the nineties than Mr. Adams. To
Mr. Adams is due not only the locating and development of a number of
the richest iron mines of the Mesaba Range, but the building of the cities
of Virginia and Eveleth, two of the most prosperous towns upon the
Range."
Among the other early works for which Mr. Adams is entitled to
credit is the map of the Mesaba Range, which was compiled and pub-
lished in 1893. In this map the formation is traced and the principal
mines located with a degree of accuracy which proves that he was fami-
liar with the entire Range at that early date, and subsequent surveys have
made very little material changes in the map of the Range.
David Tugaw Adams has had a personal career as rugged as the
scenes and activities that for so long proved the arena of his experience.
He was born at Rockford, Illinois, September 6, 1859, son of Moses
Tugaw and Jane (Castoney) Adams. The parents were born in Canada,
moved to New York state in 1840, and several years later came west and
for several years had their home at Rockford. About 1861 they moved to
Chilton, Wisconsin, and in 1865 to Menasha in that state. Moses Adams
was a butcher by trade, but was a farmer in Illinois and in Wisconsin,
where he died in the fall of 1867.
David T. Adams was then eight years of age. The death of the
father left the family with limited means. The widowed mother was
unable to support her seven children, and they were compelled to separate
and find homes among strangers. Thus from the age of eight David
Adams was cast upon his own resources. His boyhood naturally was
one of privation, hard work and a great variety of experience that had
to suffice as the chief source of an education.
He was about twenty years of age when he came from Oshkosh, Wis-
consin, to the mining regions of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and
began his work as an explorer for iron ore in the vicinity of Crystal
Falls and Iron River. This work was pursued with little profit, though
of inestimable advantage to him in subsequent years. Seeking more
933
934 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUXTY
profitable fields, he left Alichigan for northeastern \Minnesota, and on
June 20, 1882, arrived at Dulutli. Thereafter, as the records of history
show, no one was so personally prominent in discovering and bringing
to development the great iron wealth of northeastern Minnesota. His
first investigations, beginning in the fall of 1883. did not prove particu-
larly successful, and it is a tribute to his persistence that he kept steadily
at work in studying and investigating until he had explored what is now
known to the world as the great Mesaba Range. He was the first to
promulgate the theory that this Range was at one time the shore line of
an extinct sea. In conseciuence of his years of practical work there is
no doubt that the claim will not be disputed in asserting that he is an
authority on Minnesota mining without a superior. While his work was
in such a large measure a great public service to the world of industry
and to many town communities in northern Minnesota, happily his efforts
did not go unrewarded in a material sense.
IMr. Adams is a Republican in politics. He served as treasurer of
Duluth Lodge of Elks No. 133 from about 1898 to 1903. He is a mem-
ber of the Illinois Athletic Club, the South Shore Country Club and the
Westmoreland Country Club of Chicago, of the Kitchi Gammi Club of
Duluth, and is a member of the Lake Superior Mining Institute and the
American Institute of Mining and ^letallurgijcal Engineers.
At Mount Clemens. ^Michigan, November 23, 1908, Mr. Adams mar-
ried Helen L. Wishart, daughter of Frank K. and Jean Wishart, of
Scotch Canadian ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have an adopted daugh-
ter, a niece of Mr. Adams, named Lucilla.
Phixeas Terry Brownell. From the time the first railroad was
built into the Ely district until the present members of the Brownell
family have been sustaining factors in business and in many lines of
the development that have marked this progressive section of northern
Minnesota.
The founder of the family there was the late Phineas Terry Brownell,
who died at Ely November 4, 1920. He was then sixty-five years of age.
He was born at Fairhaven, Masaschusetts, a son of Henry and Harriet
Brownell, of that state, and as a youth he attended school in his native
town and also Bryant & Stratton Business College at Boston. Trained
as a bookkeeper, he removed as a young man to Michigan, and for a
time kept the books of a mining company's store.
It was in 1886 that he joined the small group of first settlers at Tower.
The railroad had only recently been completed to Soudan. His principal
business connection with this community was as bookkeeper for P. J.
Richwine in a general store, but first he was employed in the Grube meat
market. The late Mr. Brownell came to Ely in 1889, and with Nick
Pastoret bought a meat market. Later he became sole proprietor and
was active head of the business of Brownell & Company until his death.
This is one of the oldest commercial concerns under one continuous owner-
ship in Ely.
Phineas Terry Brownell was always eager to enlist himself in some
cause of public and community improvement. He built one of the first
summer homes on Burntside Lake, and was the leader in promoting the
Ely-Burntside Outing Company, serving as its treasurer, and was largely
instrumental in making that one of the most popular pleasure resorts in
northern Minnesota. He was a Knight Templar Mason, affiliating with
the Commandery at Eveleth, and in politics was a Republican.
In Michigan Phineas T. Brownell married Louise Gertrude Hill. Five
children were .born to their marriage and four are now living. The oldest
is Leslie M. The second, Captain Otto B., is a graduate of the University
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 935
of Minnesota, and is an engineer by profession. Early in the war with
Germany he was commissioned a captain of engineers, trained at Fort
Leavenworth, and went to the battle front in France with the 32nd
Division, 1 07th Engineers. He was formerly assistant city engineer of
Duluth, but is now engaged in his profession at Minneapolis. The third
son, Edward, is still associated in the meat business founded by his
father. The only daughter, Lucia, is a student in the State University.
Leslie M. Brownell, whose life has been one of exceptional experience
and varied service, was born in Michigan January 21, 1882, but from
earliest boyhood lived in northern Minnesota. He acquired his prelim-
inary education in the Ely schools. On account of an affliction of the
ears he went to the southwest, and continued his education in the New
Mexico Military Institute at Roswell. He was graduated at the age of
twenty-two and the following year remained with the school as teacher
of Spanish and Military Science. On returning to Minnesota he was
employed in exploration work by the Oliver Mining Company on the
Mesaba Range. Mr. Brownell then joined the L^nited States forest
service, at first as a guard and after passing the Civil Service examination
was promoted to ranger, and for six years was supervisor of the Supe-
rior National Forest, with headquarters at Ely. Continuing in the service,
he was transferred, and for a year and a half was supervisor at Pagosa
Springs and Delta, Colorado. No influence and inclination is stronger
with him than work in the open and particularly in the forests of the
great west. While with the forestry service he built trails, surveyed roads,
helped fight forest fires, and enjoyed to the full even the most difficult
of his experiences. Since his father's death he has had charge of the
business at Ely.
In 1909 Mr. Brownell married Alma Lee, daughter of Oscar Lee, of
Merrillan, Wisconsin. They have three children, Lee, Margery and
Terry. Mr. Brownell is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a
Republican.
Robert J. Whiteside, president of the Northern Motor Company,
automobile distributors, has been active in the automobile business only
about four years, and prior to that was a practical worker and technical
man engaged in the operations of the mining and lumber district of
northern Minnesota and other sections of the northwest.
He was born at Severn Bridge, Canada, November 14, 1877, and
came to America with his cousin, John A. Densmore, and located at Ely,
Minnesota, His father, Richard Whiteside, had come to Minnesota about
1886, and fqr many years was actively engaged in the lumber business
at Ely. He continued in this business until about six years before his
death.
Robert J. Whiteside was third in a family of ten children, eight of
whom are still living. He acquired his early education in the country
schools of Canada and as a youth found work in the woods and acquired
a knowledge of practically every phase of logging and lumbering. He
graduated from laborer to the rank of compass man or cruiser and later
was a foreman in a lumber camp on the Vermillion Range of Minnesota
for about three years. He was then in the service of R. B. Whiteside
in the mining and lumber business on the Range, and continued to look
after his interests there until about 1914. Following that for just eight
months Mr. Whiteside had some active experience in the oil industry
in Wyorhing.
About the first of September, 1916, he returned to Duluth and entered
the automobile business with an incorporated company. In September,
1917, he organized the Spice Auto Company and on October 27, 1919,
936 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
reorganized the business as the Northern Motor Company, of which
Mr. Whiteside is president, R. F. Burke, vice president and general man-
ager, and J. R. Belleperche, secretary. This company, whose headquarters
are at 210-212 East Superior street, took over the business of the Spice
Auto Company, and as a hundred thousand dollar corporation have
ample facilities for a general business as automobile distributors. They
have the agency for the Nash and Lexington cars.
Mr. Whiteside is a member of the Duluth Automobile Club, the
Sportsmen's Club, is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the
order of Elks, and in politics is a Republican. At Ely, Minnesota,
November 19. 1903, he married Miss Agnes S. Childers, daughter of
Solmen S. Childers. Her parents were among the first settlers of Ely.
Mrs. Whiteside finished her education in the schools of that place. Of
the two children born to their marriage the one now living is Albert Owen
Whiteside, born November 3, 1904.
A. W. EiLER. One of the most important branches of business life
is the supplying of the consumer with reliable foodstuffs, and when a
man does this and renders efficient service at reasonable prices he is
certain to attain to a high standing in his community. For a number of
years A. W. Filer has been in the grocery business, and he is now con-
ducting one of the most modern of retail grocery establishments at Proc-
tor, and is also engaged in handling a high grade of fresh and salted meats,
the large and stable trade he has built up in both lines proving his
dependability.
Mr. Filer is a native of Denmark, where he was born October 4, 1861,
and he was nineteen years old when he left his native land for the United
States, where he arrived in 1880. Going to Chicago, Illinois, for a time
he worked in a leather and belt factory, but later entered a grocery
store as a clerk, and in time saved sufficient money to start in business
for himself as a grocer on Indiana avenue, Chicago. After two years,
in 1884, he went to Duluth, Minnesota, and from 1884 until 1887 con-
ducted a grocery for Charles Kresman. In the latter year he bought the
business from his employer, and in 1891, moved it from its original
location on Lake avenue to No. 42 West Superior street. Two years
later Mr. Filer moved to Fourth street, and remained there for ten years.
He then went back to Lake avenue for eight years, at the termination
of which period he came to Proctor and established himself in his present
business. He carries a full and varied line of green and staple groceries
and meats, and handles only first-class goods. In addition to carrying on
his business in a manner to reflect credit on Proctor, he renders the
community service in other ways, and is one of the constructive elements
here.
In 1889 Mr. Filer was married to Miss Christiana Thompson, whose
parents were natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Filer became the parents
of four children, three of whom survive, namely: William, who lives
at Plattsville, Wisconsin ; Earl, who is a veterinary surgeon ; and Henry,
who is a civil engineer. Mr. Filer is a member of the order of Odd
Fellows and the Danish Brotherhood of Duluth. In politics he is a
Republican. A steady, hard-working and capable man, he has earned all
he now possesses and is entitled to the prosperity he enjoys.
August and Olef M. Johnson are among the oldest established mer-
chants of Hibbing, and the firm of Johnson Brothers is a successful
business partnership that has thoroughly stood the test of time. The
brothers are men of action, 'have achieved prosperity since coming to
America through the avenues of hard work, thrift and persistence, and
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 937
have exemplified ideals of American citizenship admirable from every
standpoint.
Both were born in Sweden. Their father was John Peterson and
their mother AmeHa Johanson. In the old country the family were
farmers. The first of the children to come to America was Carl John-
son, who reached the United States in 1888. Olef Johnson came next,
in 1890, and found employment in sawmills at Ramsay, Michigan. In
the spring of 1891 August and his sister Anna came over. The sister
went on to the state of Washington, where she married and where she
is still living. August joined his brother at Ramsay, and the three
brothers soon removed to Ashland, Wisconsin, and worked on the break-
water and later in the stone quarry at Presque Isle. In 1893 Carl John-
son returned to Sweden, where he is still living. The other two brothers,
August and Olef, worked out their destiny and have become prominent
American citizens. For several years they continued to be employed in
quarries in summer and in the woods in winter. In 1895 Olef came
to Hibbing and entered the service of the old Lake Superior Iron Mining
Company. His brother August followed him about two years later. Olef
continued working in the mines until 1904, in which year the Johnson
Brothers combined their capital and experience and engaged in the retail
grocery business. They have sold goods to the community at Hibbing
ever since, and have been deservedly prospered.
The Johnson brothers married sisters. The wife of Olef was Emily
Carlson, and to their union were born eleven children, named Norman,
Earl, Ruth, Albert, Ethel, Oscar, Theresa, Helen, Frank, Leonard and
Robert. Olef and family are Lutherans and fraternally he is a thirty-
second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The wife of August Johnson was Hannah Carlson. Their three
children are Gladys, Ewald and Wilfred. August has likewise attained
the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry, is an Odd Fellow and
a member of the Lutheran Church.
C. G. Carlson is a young man with a veteran's experience in railroad
work, and during the eight or nine years he has been identified with
Tower as station agent he has proved one of the ablest spirits in the
civic aflfairs and the general advancement of that community.
Mr. Carlson was born on a farm in South Sweden October 6, 1889,
only son of the seven children born to C. E. and Amanda (Carlson)
Carlson. His parents brought their family from Sweden in 1902 and
located at Two Harbors, Minnesota. The parents now live in Duluth,
the father at the age of fifty-nine and the mother at fifty-seven. The
father worked on the railroad docks and later at street paving in the
city, of Two Harbors. He is a Republican, and always been interested
in local affairs in the community w^here he has lived since coming to
America.
C. G. Carlson attended school at Two Harbors from the time he was
thirteen until he was fifteen.. At that early age he began railroading
as call boy for the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad. Later he was in
the air brake department of the machine shops, also warehouse foreman
at Two Harbors, did clerical work at depots, filled in a brief interval
as station agent at Aurora, and was then relief man and traveling auditor.
In 1913 he was appointed to the duties of station and express agent at
Tower, and he has made an enviable record in faithfulness and efficiency
to the company and in caring, for the business of the community. Mr.
Carlson had an uncle who came to northern Minnesota many years ago,
and was at one time captain at Soudan Mine.
938 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mr. Carlson has served on the Tower School Board, as municipal
judge, and has been secretary, treasurer and is now president of the
Tower Commercial Club. He is a director of the Ten Thousand Lakes
Association of Minnesota, a director of the Minnesota Automobile Asso-
ciation, is a member of the St. Louis Country Club, is chairman of the
Republican Committee in his precinct, is a Scottish Rite Mason and
Shriner, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Mac-
cabees, and has other fraternal and social relations. Mr. Carlson is a
trustee of the Tower Presbyterian Church. In 1913, the year he came
to Tower, he married Miss Pearl Morin, daughter of Peter E. Morin,
of Tower. They have two children, Violet and Kenneth,
A. S. Nordstrom, president of the Duluth Linen Company, is a com-
paratively young man but has had a long business experience since he
entered commercial life at Duluth when only a boy.
He was born at Duluth March 13, 1887, son of Gustaf and Christine
(Lundell) Nordstrom. His parents were born in Sweden, came to Amer-
ica about 1885, came to the state of Minnesota soon afterward and in
1886 established their home at Duluth. The father was a carpenter by
trade, and followed that occupation until his death.
Of nine children eight are still living, A. S. Nordstrom being the fourth
in age. He attended the public schools of Duluth, but at the age of
thirteen went to work as an errand boy, subsequently was clerk in
the establishment of Huntington and Tallant, and continued with that
concern until it was reorganized as the George A. Gray Company. Mr.
Nordstrom then found an opportunity to use his modest capital and con-
siderable experience to engage in business for himself under the firm
name of Valentine-Nordstrom Company. They started in 1912, as dealers
in dry goods, but primarily catering to the needs and requirements of
hotels and hospitals. In 1915 Mr. Nordstrom withdrew from the partner-
ship, and early in the following year established the Duluth Linen Com-
pany, a business similar in purpose to his previous enterprise. The com-
pany are manufacturers and wholesalers in linen and cotton goods, and
maintain a special service supplying all the needs of large users of linen,
such as hotels and hospitals. Mr. Nordstrom assisted in organizing the
company and has been president since it was incorporated in 1916. John
F. Bergin is vice president and secretary and Edward Regelsberger is
treasurer. While the business started with a small capital and on a
modest scale, it has grown and prospered rapidly.
Mr. Nordstrom is a member of the Duluth Boat Club. On September
6, 1916, he married Mrs. D. E. Tupper, of Duluth. She was educated
in the public schools of Duluth, studied music at Owatonna, Minnesota,
and for a time was engaged in teaching instrumental music in this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Nordstrom have one son, whom they have named Fielder
Albin. He is a namesake of his second cousin "Fielder Jones," the
popular baseball player.
Ch.\rles W. Bray, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons
of Saint Louis County, now engaged in the practice of his profession at
Biwabik, comes of a family of physicians. His father was a physician;
his uncle. Doctor Bray, practiced medicine at Evansville, Indiana, until
he was seventy-two years old; a brother, Dr. Elwyn Bray, is an eye,
ear and nose specialist of Saint Paul, Minnesota ; a cousin. Dr. Charles
Bray, is engaged in an active practice at Portland, Maine, and his wife
was a classmate of his and was graduated from the medical department
of the University of Minnesota in 1895, having previously been graduated
from its literary department in 1892. Doctor Bray is the proprietor of the
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 939
Eiwabik Hospital, which was established in 1892 by Doctor Magie. The
original building was destroyed by fire, and the present modern hospital
building was erected by Doctor Bray in 1906, and he has since conducted
the institution, which is recognized to be one of the best in the county.
Doctor Bray was born on a farm at Young America, Minnesota,
September 7, 1868, a son of Dr. Eben and Angie (Noyes) Bray, both of
whom were born in Maine. Dr. Eben Bray attended medical college at
Cincinnati, Ohio, and for some years practiced medicine at Carver, Min-
nesota, but in later years lived on a farm at Young America, this state.
His death occurred in 1891, when he was seventy -two years old, and his
wife died in 1915, when seventy-four years old. A leading Democrat of
his district, he represented it in the first Territorial Legislature, and
always maintained his interest in politics. The Baptist Church had in
him a zealous and generous member until his death.
Doctor Bray was graduated from the literary department of the Uni-
versity of Minnesota in 1891 and in its medical department in 1895, and
has since then taken up post-graduate work at Johns-Hopkins and Har-
vard. For one year following the securing of his degree of Doctor of
Medicine he was house physician of a Saint Paul hospital, and then for
three years was engaged in a general practice at Minneapolis, Minnesota,
but in 1899 came to Biwabik, taking over the hospital at that time.
In 1899 Doctor Bray was married to Mary Bassett, a daughter of
Robert Bassett of Hastings, Minnesota. They have four children, as
follows: Robert, Elizabeth, Philip and Kenneth. During the late war
Robert Bray was in the Students' Officers' Training Camp at Carleton
College, Northfield. Dr. Bray rendered efficient service on the Medical
Examining Board at Biwabik, and both he and his wife worked hard in
the different campaigns to raise money for war purposes, Mrs. Bray
being specially active in the local Red Cross. They are members of the
Congregational Church, of which he is one of the trustees. He is a
Shriner Mason, and well known in that fraternity. In politics he is an
independent voter, but aside from serving on the sdhool board has felt
no desire for office. Doctor Bray has other interests and is now serving
as vice president of the First National Bank of Biwabik. He is a man
big of brain and warm of heart, and his actions mark him as a man
upright and sincere. Professionally his skill is unquestioned, and in the
management of his hospital he displays business ability of no mean order.
Martin Rosendahl, who has built up one of the largest distributing
agencies for motor cars in the northwest, has had a busy career, beginning
when a boy, and has had every variation of experience from telegraph
messenger boy to promoter of industrial and financial organizations.
Mr. Rosendahl was born at Minneapolis July 18, 1878. His father,
Peter Rosendahl, was a native of Norway, came to America in 1860 and
first located in Minneapolis but later removed to Stoughton, Wisconsin.
He was a cooper by trade, and while working in that vocation he also took
a great interest in his friends and fellow countrymen. He eventually
led a colony and founded a settlement and through his influence promoted
its upbuilding and brought many of his friends and the people of his
nationality to that region and gave them wise counsel and advice in
establishing homes. His uncle, Ole Rosendahl, was the owner of a noted
institution in Minnesota where many people still go to get the benefit of its
celebrated mud baths. He is the original discoverer of the mud baths
located at Jordan, Minn.
Martin Rosendahl, the youngest of three cliildren, acquired his early
education in the schools of Stoughton, Wisconsin, and later attended
school at Duluth when his parents moved here. At the age of twelve
940 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
he was working as a messenger boy for the Union Telegraph Company.
Subsequently he was a water carrier on the coal docks, later an employe
of the Northwestern Fuel Company in charge of their shipping depart-
ment, and for several years conducted some profitable cigar stores. He
served as deputy internal revenue collector, then for two years operated
a cut-rate ticket agency, and from that entered the brokerage business
and in that capacity financed one of the largest mining companies in
the north. He also became an organizer and stockholder in a large
exploration and development company handling oil lands in eastern
Kentucky.
Mr. Rosendahl has concentrated most of his energies and enterprise
upon the automobile business since 1913. He has developed about thir-
teen local agencies in different parts of the country, his chief offices
being at 229-231 East Superior street in Duluth, and through the Duluth
headquarters and other agencies under his supervision he is one of the
distributers in the United States of the Scripps-Booth, Cleveland and
Chandler motor cars. Mr. Rosendahl is a member of the United Com-
mercial Travelers, and belongs to the Commercial Club, to the Elks and
Good Samaritans. He married at Duluth Miss Myra Grandy, and their
two children are Marian and Jane.
Niels Nissen is one of the ablest men in the insurance business in
the northwest. His experience involves practically every phase of the
insurance business, from that of a soliticitor and individual underwriter
to the organizer and executive official of corporations performing the
service of insurance.
Mr. Nissen was born August 23, 1876, in the Province of Slesvig.
Slesvig was originally a part of Denmark, was taken away by Germany
about sixty or seventy years ago, and under the terms of the treaty
imposed on Germany by the World war has been returned to Denmark.
Mr. Nissen acquired his education in the schools of his native province
and in 1896 came to America alone, partly to escape compulsory service
with the German military. His first home was at Hartford, Connecticut,
where he was employed for a time in making automobile and bicycle tires.
He was also in the printing business, and while there tound his first
opportunities to engage in the insurance business as a solicitor for the
Prudential Insurance Company. With this well known corporation he
had rapid advancement in proportion to his ability and results obtained.
After a year he was promoted to take charge of the Prudential's office
at Bristol, Connecticut. He remained there five years and was then
offered the opportunity of taking charge of a new Prudential office to be
opened at Duluth, as its superintendent. That was in 1908, and in that
year Mr. Nissen brought his family to Diiluth. After three years as
Prudential superintendent at Duluth he resigned to become field manager
of the agency force of the Modern Samaritans.
Not long afterward he laid plans for the organization of a casualty
company. He personally effected this organization, and in January, 1912,
became president of the Duluth Casualty Association, which was incor-
porated the 5th of January and licensed January 23, 1912. Since then he
has become identified with the management and promotion of other cor-
porations performing a general insurance service. Just a few days before
the big forest fire in 1918 he was asked to take over the Farmers' Mutual
Fire Insurance Company on account of the removal of the secretary to
another state. He handled the affairs of that company in addition to
his responsibilities with the Duluth Casualty Association, and when the
business of the company was finally straightened out after the fire he
was asked to become the permanent secretary, and that office he still holds.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 941
Among various business enterprises witli which he has been connected
while in Duluth one of the most recent was the organization by Mr.
Nissen in 1919 of a stock Hfe insurance company known as the Duluth
Liability Association. This company was licensed to do business May
II, 1920. He is president and general manager.
Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order, the Modern Wood-
men of America, Modern Samaritans, Danish Brotherhood and several
other fraternities. He belongs to the Lutheran Church, and while voting
and otherwise performing his responsibilities as a citizen and member of
the Republican party he has never sought public office.
July 15, 1898, at Hartford, Connecticut, he married Miss Hannah
Peterson, daughter of Karsten Peterson, who also immigrated from
Slesvig. Mrs. Nissen acquired her education in the schools of Hartford,
Connecticut, and is very active in church work at Duluth. To their mar-
riage have been born seven children, all living, named Lena, Karsten,
Niels, Jr., Margaret, Marie, Mae and Robert. The son Karsten was
with the colors for two years in the World war, spending one year in
France, and for eight months of that time was in military police service at
Paris. Mr. Nissen has his business offices in the Alworth Building, and
he and his interesting family reside at 2622 West Sixth street.
F. H. SiCKELS. The hardware and furniture house of F. H. Sickels
is one of the leading business establishments of Proctor, and is the out-
growth of a lifetime of endeavor on the part of the proprietor, whose
prosperity has been gained through individual effort and the application
of sound common sense. F. H. Sickels was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin,
February 10, 1861, a son of George E. Sickels, who was born in the state
of New York. His mother was a native of Connecticut.
Mr. Sickels became a clerk in a hardware store at Saint Paul, Min-
nesota, but about 1912 came to Proctor and bought his present hardware
and furniture store, which he has since expanded and has built up a very
gratifying trade. He now operates under the name of F. H. Sickels
& Company, Mrs. Sickels, being the company. In addition to a full and
varied line of hardware and furniture, he carries paints, oils and varnishes,
and all of his goods are first-class in every respect.
In November, 1912, Mr. Sickels was married to Grace E. Smith.
Having been so fully occupied with his. business affairs, he has had no
time to enter public life, but he has always taken an intelligent interest
in civic matters, and can be depended upon to give an earnest support
to all measures which he deems will be for the good of the majority.
In all of his ventures he has displayed a natural business abiHty which
has done much to place him where he is today. Until he entered the
hardware field he was not satisfied with his experiments in business, but
in it found what he felt was his life work, and his subsequent success
proves that this was a fortunate move. Both he and Mrs. Sickels are
popular with their social acquaintances, and their pleasant home is often
the scene of delightful gatherings.
Thomas E. Miller. Practically all the changes, developments and
events worth recording have occurred at Ely since Thomas E. Miller
identified himself with the pioneer community thirty odd years ago.
Throughout that period he has been consistently engaged in the mer-
cantile business, and is the active head of the Miller Store Company,
one of the oldest business establishments under one management in the
Range country.
Mr. Miller was born at Toronto, Canada, January 14, 1865, son of
WilHam and Christina (Robertson) Miller. His parents were good
942 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Scotch Presbyterian people, and after their marriage in Scotland emi-
grated to Canada, where they lived out their lives, dying at the respective
ages of seventy-four and sixty-nine. William Miller was an industrious
shoemaker by trade. He had a family of six sons and three daughters.
Three of them came to the United States, Robert S. and Thomas E.. both
of Ely, and one daughter, Agnes, wife of Julius Goedge, now of San
Francisco.
Robert S. Miller was the third merchant to start a store in the town
of Ely. Thomas E. Miller acquired his early education at Goderich,
Canada, and continued in school until sixteen, when he began learning
the grocery business in the same town. For a time he was at Hayward,
Wisconsin, and on November 1, 1888, joined his brother Robert at Ely,
and since then has been continuously associated with the enterprise estab-
lished by his brother. For many years this was a general merchandise
emporium.
The firm built up and retained a large trade, but sustained heavy
losses in the fire of 1913. They immediately reorganized, and their suc-
cess has been growing by rapid strides ever since. Since 1918 the busi-
ness has been one of exclusive trade in groceries.
Thomas E. Miller has been a merchant who has applied himself with
few vacations to his business for over thirty years. Notwithstanding, he
has found time to work for the general welfare of the community, par-
ticularly being interested in the progress of education. For nine years
he was on the School Board, and secretary of the board for four years.
He has seen the schools of Ely grow from a little one-room schoolhouse
to a well organized system requiring a large investment in buildings and
a corps of teachers. Mr. Miller is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner,
a member of the Woodmen and Maccabees, is a Republican, and he and
his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1893 he married
Mabel Walker, of Ayr, Canada.
R, D. McKercher, the senior partner in the Oldsmobile Sales Com-
pany, one of the oldest established automobile firms within Duluth, now
in its twenty-second year, has been a resident of the city for a quarter of
a century and is a former chief of police.
He was born in Ontario, Canada, March 19, 1874, and after acquiring
his education came to the United States at the age of twenty-one. Locat-
ing in Duluth, he followed his trade as a blacksmith, which he had learned
in Canada. After two years he left his trade and became clerk in the
order department of the great wholesale house of Marshall Wells & Com-
pany, and was there four years. He left that firm to become clerk in
the office of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, later was foreman
in the warehouse, and altogether spent eleven years in the service of the
railway corporation. He left that to enter upon his public duties as
humane agent for the city of Duluth, and after four years was appointed
chief of police, and gave an efficient administration of that office until
1916. At that date he engaged in the automobile business in association
with Mr. Turner, and still later with the Oldsmobile Sales Company.
During the past several years his business in sales of cars has increased
more than a hundred per cent.
Mr. McKercher has always been prominent in local civic affairs, is a
member of the Commercial Club, Duluth Automobile Club, is affiliated
with Palestine Lodge No. 79, A. F. and A. M., and is a member of the
Elks, Good Samaritans and Scottish Clans. In 1896 he married Miss
C. W. McKilligan. They have twin children, Cecil and Ella, born July
5, 1900.
(7?p6/m/Cr^z^
AS'
■" -'■-' _£!l£j
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 943
Carl A. Knutson. Among the younger generation of Duluth busi-
ness men whose names are deserving of special mention for what they
stand for in the Hne of achievement in their chosen vocations is Carl A.
Knutson, a well-known realty operator. Mr. Knutson was born at Wells,
Minnesota, September 21, 1883, a son of Martin Knutson. His father,
a native of Norway, immigrated to the United States in 1880 with his
wife and two children and located at Wells, Minnesota, where he engaged
in the tailoring business. In 1890 he removed to Duluth, where he con-
tinued in the same line of business during the remainder of his active
years, and is now living in retirement, being sixty-seven years of age. He
has been the father of nine children, Carl A. being the fourth in order of
birth.
Carl A. Knutson attended the public schools of Duluth until he reached
the age of thirteen years, and at that time commenced herding cattle. In
1901 he entered the realty field with the W. M. Prindle Company in the
dual capacity of bookkeeper and cashier. From these positions he was
advanced to the management of the rentals department of the business for
two years, following which he went to Seattle, Washington, and for two
years operated in the realty field there, but in 1915 returned to Duluth
and became manager of the Johnson Land Company, owners of a vast
amount of property, with which concern he remained five years. From
March, 1909, to May, 1911, he was engaged in the building business, and
in Duluth built about thirty houses.
Mr. Knutson embarked in business on his own account in 1920, and
since that time has maintained offices on the seventh floor of the Palladio
Building, where he conducts a general real estate business. His career has
been a typical exemplification of ambitious manhood, and he is already
accorded a place among the men whose activities are serving to maintain
the high standard existing in real estate circles.
Mr. Knutson has numerous important business, civic and social con-
nections, and is a Christian Scientist in his religious belief. He was
married July 2, 1913, at Seattle, Washington, to Miss Jessie E. Johnson,
and to this union there has come one son, James E., born January 14, I9l5.
Robert William Acton, highway engineer for St. Louis County, is
eminently qualified to give expert technical counsel to the county authori-
ties in the construction of a good roads system. His long experience in
the construction of railroads and other highways is ample proof of his
qualifications for his present duties. >
Mr. Acton was born in Minnesota January 27, 1881, son of Nehemiah
Judson and Annie Mary (Manners) Acton. His father, a native of the
province of New Brunswick, Canada, came to the United States in 1870,
when he was fifteen years of age. For eight or nine years he worked
in the pineries of Wisconsin. At twenty-four he moved to Dakota County.
Minnesota, went to work on a farm, soon afterward married, and he and
his bride moved out to the prairies of Swift County, where he took up a
homestead. After about ten years in Swift County he moved to Lac Qui
Parle County and continued to give his time and efiforts largely to agri-
culture until his death in 1920. His widow is still living at the age of
sixty-three.
Oldest of three children, Robert W. Acton spent his early life on a
Minnesota farm, but availed himself of the opportunities of some of the
best schools. He was graduated from the high school at Madison, Minne-
sota, in 1900, and in the fall of the same year entered the L^niversity of
Minnesota. While his college work was not continuous, his associations
with the university continued until 1904. While there he specialized in
944 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
civil engineering, but also gained much practical experience by an absence
of several months at a time in railroad construction work.
In 1904 Mr. Acton joined the Illinois Central Company's engineering
department as instrument man in the construction of their lines in the
Mississippi Delta in the state of Mississippi. He was with the Illinois
Central about nine months and then became resident engineer of railroad
construction for the Southern Railway in Mississippi. His service as an
engineer in the south was terminated in the late fall of 1906 by reason of
his having contracted malaria.
Returning to Minnesota and after regaining his health he entered the
employ of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway as
engineer on location and construction, and continued that w^ork for the
company about five years, until 191 1.
Mr. Acton has had some technical and engineering connections with
the good roads activities of Minnesota for ten years. From 1911 until
January 1, 1917, he was with the State Highway Department as division
engineer on the location and construction of highways. At the latter date
he took up his present work as engineer of roads for St. Louis County,
and as such has his offices in the courthouse in Duluth.
Mr. Acton is a member of the Minnesota Surveyors and Engineers
Society, the Duluth Engineers Club, is a member of the Commercial Club,
Rotary Club, Duluth Boat Club, Ridgeway Golf Club, Y. M. C. A. and
Geneva Lodge No. 196, A. F. and A. M. October 11, 1906, he married
Miss Lorena Young, of Columbus, Mississippi.
Oscar G. Lindberg has been a resident of Duluth and environs for
over a third of a century, and for many years has been active in business
affairs at Hibbing, where he is now a member of the real estate and
insurance firm of Dyer & Lindberg.
He was born in Sweden July 18, 1875, and was eleven years of age
when in 1886 the family came to the United States. The parents were
Abraham and Maria Lindberg, who located at Duluth. The father died
in 1918 and the mother in 1907. Three of their five children are still
living. Oscar G. Lindberg attended school in his native country, also at
Duluth, but at the age of fourteen went to work and for five years was
in the service of Dr. Charles Slaughter of Duluth. Incidental to his other
work he took up the study of medicine in the doctor's office, but abandoned
the intention of becoming a physician. For three years he clerked in a
drug store, later went on the road as a traveling salesman, and in 1911
came to Hibbing and was president of the wholesale liquor house of the
Mesaba Wholesale Liquor Company until the liquor business was abol-
ished. For two years he was in the automobile business, but since April,
1918, has given his time to the firm of Dyer & Lindberg. This firm has
handled many of the real estate deals at Hibbing, South Hibbing and
the farming district of St. Louis County. They sold about four hundred
and fifty lots in South Hibbing.
Mr. Lindberg was elected a member of the Village Council in 1917
and served one year. He is a Republican, affiliated with the Improved
Order of Red Men and the Elks, is a director of the Commercial Club
and attends the Catholic Church. On November 18, 1903, he married
Minnie Lana, of Duluth.
John Runquist has been building railroads in the northwestern coun-
try for over thirty years. He is one of the principal railroad contractors
whose home and headquarters are at Duluth, and altogether he has been
a factor in the good citizenship of this community for thirty-three years.
Mr. Runquist was born in Sweden in 1862, and was reared and edu-
cated in his native country. In 1885 he came alone to America and em-
JOHN RUNQUIST
(.,
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 945
ployed his modest capital and experience as a farmer at Hastings, Minne-
sota. He left the farm to become a foreman for the Chicago. Burlington
& Quincy Railroad while a branch of that line was being constructed in
northern Dakota. Pie left the Burlington to take a similar post with the
Great Northern Railroad, and for three years was a foreman at different
])oints along that system. In 1887 Mr. Runquist came to Duluth. and
for the following twelve years was foreman of construction on the
Duluth and Iron Range. Since 1898 he has maintained an independent
organization for railroad building and contracting, and handled some
important contracts at the beginning for the Duluth and Iron Range and
later for the Duluth and Mesaba Railway. He has also constructed and
improved streets, made sewers, and handled other municipal contracts in
the Morgan Park district of Duluth. He built the Duluth and Mesaba
street car line, has done much contracting for the Great Northern Rail-
way, and a large part of his facilities are now employed in road building
in a number of the northern counties of Minnesota.
Mr. Runquist is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and
Shriner, also an Elk and a Republican in politics.
William H. Day. No community can be sounder than the men who
control its commercial life, for upon their energy and integrity rests the
stability of existing institutions. To. have lived for years in one locality,
and during that period conducted a concern with high-minded purpose,
supplying the demand, and expanding with the growing needs of the
populace, indicates an ability which is deserving of commendation. Wil-
liam H. Day, the oldest established merchant now in business at Hibbing,
is a man who has every reason to be proud of his long and successful
career, and his fellow citizens accord to him a respect his honorable
policies have won.
William H. Day was born at Plattsburg, Clinton County, New York,
August 6, 1864. His parents, Cyrus and Mary (Robinson) Day, were
farmers, and for generations both families have resided in the United
States. Both parents are now deceased, but their influence still lives, in
the upright actions of their son. Mr. Day was reared on the home farm
in his native county, and as a boy attended the district schools and helped
with the work of conducting the homestead. In 1890 he came west, look-
ing for broader opportunities, and arriving at Duluth, Minnesota, decided
to remain there, and for two years was employed in a furniture factory of
that city. In June, 1893, he left Duluth and came to Hibbing, and asso-
ciating himself with the mercantile firm of O'Leary & Bowser of New
Duluth he established a branch house at Hibbing under the name of
( )'Leary, Bowser & Day, with quarters on Pine street. While he was not
the first merchant in the new village, he was among the first. The store
he opened was on the site of the present Merchants & Miners State
I'ank, at the corner of Pine street and Third avenue. The firm occupied
half of the store building owned by James Gandsey, the latter occupying
the other half with a stock of groceries. O'Leary, Bowser & Day car-
ried a stock of men's furnishings and some dry goods. In 1895 the firm
bought the lot at what is now 208 Pine street and erected the present
building, which they occupied. In about 1896 O'Leary and Bowser sold
their interests to Frank Halvert, and the firm became Day & Halvert,
which association was maintained for two or three years, when Mr. Day
bought out his partner and has since continued alone, having been at his
present location for twenty-five years.
Mr. Day has taken a constructive part in the wonderful development
of Hibbing. participating in all of the movements from its birth to the
present time. When he came here it was but a little settlement of but a
944 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
civil engineering, but also gained much practical experience by an absence
of several months at a time in railroad construction work.
In 1904 Mr. Acton joined the Illinois Central Company's engineering
department as instrument man in the construction of their lines in the
Mississippi Delta in the state of Mississippi. He was with the Illinois
Central about nine months and then became resident engineer of railroad
construction for the Southern Railway in Mississippi. His service as an
engineer in the south was terminated in the late fall of 1906 by reason of
his having contracted malaria.
Returning to Minnesota and after regaining his health he entered the
employ of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway as
engineer on location and construction, and continued that work for the
company about five years, until 191 1.
Mr. Acton has had some technical and engineering connections with
the good roads activities of Minnesota for ten years. From 1911 until
January 1, 1917, he was with the State Highway Department as division
engineer on the location and construction of highways. At the latter date
he took up his present work as engineer of roads for St. Louis County,
and as such has his offices in the courthouse in Duluth.
Mr. Acton is a member of the Minnesota Surveyors and Engineers
Society, the Duluth Engineers Club, is a member of the Commercial Club,
Rotary Club, Duluth Boat Club, Ridgeway Golf Club, Y. M. C. A. and
Geneva Lodge No. 196, A. F. and A. M. October 11, 1906, he married
Miss Lorena Young, of Columbus, Mississippi.
Oscar G. Lindberg has been a resident of Duluth and environs for
over a third of a century, and for many years has been active in business
affairs at Hibbing, where he is now a member of the real estate and
insurance firm of Dyer & Lindberg.
He was born in Sweden July 18, 1875, and was eleven years of age
when in 1886 the family came to the United States. The parents were
Abraham and Maria Lindberg, who located at Duluth. The father died
in 1918 and the mother in 1907. Three of their five children are still
living. Oscar G. Lindberg attended school in his native country, also at
Duluth, but at the age of fourteen went to work and for five years was
in the service of Dr. Charles Slaughter of Duluth. Incidental to his other
work he took up the study of medicine in the doctor's office, but abandoned
the intention of becoming a physician. For three years he clerked in a
drug store, later went on the road as a traveling salesman, and in 1911
came to Hibbing and was president of the wholesale liquor house of the
Mesaba Wholesale Liquor Company until the liquor business was abol-
ished. For two years he was in the automobile business, but since April,
1918, has given his time to the firm of Dyer & Lindberg. This firm has
handled many of the real estate deals at Hibbing, South Hibbing and
the farming district of St. Louis County. They sold about four hundred
and fifty lots in South Hibbing.
Mr. Lindberg was elected a member of the Village Council in 1917
and served one year. He is a Republican, affiliated with the Improved
Order of Red Men and the Elks, is a director of the Commercial Club
and attends the Catholic Church. On November 18, 1903, he married
Minnie Lana, of Duluth.
John Runquist has been building railroads in the northwestern coun-
try for over thirty years. He is one of the principal railroad contractors
whose home and headquarters are at Duluth, and altogether he has been
a factor in the good citizenship of this community for thirty-three years.
Mr. Runquist was born in Sweden in 1862, and was reared and edu-
cated in his native country. In 1885 he came alone to America and em-
JOHN RUNQUIST
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 945
ployed his modest capital and experience as a farmer at Hastings, Minne-
sota. He left the farm to become a foreman for the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy Railroad while a branch of that line was being constructed in
northern Dakota. He left the Burlington to take a similar post with the
Great Northern Railroad, and for three years was a foreman at different
])oints along that system. In 1887 Mr. Runquist came to Duluth, and
for the following twelve years was foreman of construction on the
Duluth and Iron Ivange. Since 1898 he has maintained an indepcndeiu
organization for railroad building and contracting, and handled some
important contracts at the beginning for the Duluth and Iron Range and
later for the Duluth and Mesaba Railway. He has also constructed and
improved streets, made sewers, and handled other municipal contracts in
the Morgan Park district of Duluth. He built the Duluth and Mesaba
street car line, has done much contracting for the Great Northern Rail-
way, and a large part of his facilities are now employed in road building
in a number of the northern counties of Minnesota.
Mr. Runquist is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and
Shriner, also an Elk and a Republican in politics.
William H. Day. No community can be sounder than the men who
control its commercial life, for upon their energy and integrity rests the
stability of existing institutions. Todiave lived for years in one locality,
and during that period conducted a concern with high-minded purpose,
supplying the demand, and expanding with the growing needs of the
populace, indicates an ability which is deserving of commendation. Wil-
liam H. Day, the oldest established merchant now in business at Hibbing,
is a man who has every reason to Ije proud of his long and successful
career, and his fellow citizens accord to him a respect his honorable
policies have won.
William H. Day was born at Plattsburg, Clinton County, New York,
August 6, 1864. His parents, Cyrus and Mary (Robinson) Day, were
farmers, and for generations both families have resided in the United
States. Both parents are now deceased, but their influence still lives in
the upright actions of their son. Mr. Day was reared on the home farm
in his native county, and as a boy attended the district schools and helped
with the work of conducting the homestead. In 1890 he came west, look-
ing for broader opportunities, and arriving at Duluth, Minnesota, decided
to remain there, and for two years was employed in a furniture factory of
that city. In June, 1893, he left Duluth and came to Hibbing, and asso-
ciating himself with the mercantile firm of O'Leary & Bowser of New
Duluth he established a branch house at Hibbing under the name of
O'Leary, Bowser & Day, with quarters on Pine street. While he was not
the first merchant in the new village, he was among the first. The store
lie opened was on the site of the present Merchants & Miners State
r>ank, at the corner of Pine street and Third avenue. The firm occupied
half of the store building owned by James Gandsey, the latter occupying
the other half with a stock of groceries. O'Leary, Bowser & Day car-
ried a stock of men's furnishings and some dry goods. In 1895 the firm
bought the lot at what is now 208 Pine street and erected the present
building, which they occupied. In about 1896 O'Leary and Bowser sold •
their interests to Frank Halvert. and the firm became Day & Halvert,
which association was maintained for two or three years, when Mr. Day
bought out his partner and has since continued alone, having been at his
present location for twenty-five years.
Mr. Day has taken a constructive part in the wonderful development
of Hibbing. participating in all of the movements from its birth to the
present time. When he came here it was but a little settlement of but a
946 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
few inhabitants. There were no sidewalks, no Hght or water plants, in
fact nothing in the way of improvements except those made by the per-
sons buying land and putting up small buildings. He has witnessed the
changes'of more than a quarter of a century, and during that period the
meager beginnings have been transformed into the Hibbing of today. Mr.
Day has been an integral factor in effecting these remarkable changes. In
the early days of Hibbing he served as town clerk, and subsequently has
been on the School Board. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and was a charter member and one of the organizers of Forest Citv Lodge
Xo. 143, K. of P.
In 1908 Mr. Day was united in marriage with Amanda Shellman, of
Fergus Falls. Minnesota, and they had one daughter, Elizabeth Inger.
Mrs. Day died July 11. 1911. and was deeply mourned not only by her
family but a wide circle of friends. Mr. Day is a man who has always
understood the fundamentals of commercial life, and possessed the will
and resourcefulness necessary to develop to the utmost his opportunities.
He is not only a prosperous man, but he has always given bountifully of
his means and time to the advancement of his community and has en-
deavored to support those ideals and standards which go to make the real
American citizen.
JoHX Sn.\.MBE.\u. Success in the highly specialized field of life insur-
ance is perhaps the best tribute that can be paid to one's commercial
(|ualifications, since it involves necessarily the highest personal integrity
and intelligent enterprise. A striking success in this line has been
achieved by John Shambeau, who came to Duluth a dozen years ago and
is now general agent for northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin
representing the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Mr. Shambeau was born at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, October 20, 1876.
He came to Duluth June 10, 1908. to engage in the life insurance business
as general agent for the above named company. L^p to that time the
Massachusetts Life Insurance Company had practically no insurance in
force in St. Louis County. It was a virgin field so far as this old com-
pany was concerned. Mr. Shambeau and a partner under the firm name
of McNally & Shambeau went to work and in a few years had demon-
strated the (juality of their enterprise and their untiring vigor in writing
insurance, and their agency came to be considered the largest and most
active life insurance agency in the city in point of volume of insurance
written and maintained. In 1920 the partnership arrangement was dis-
solved, and since then Mr. Shambeau has assumed sole charge of the
Duluth agency, which covers the territory of all of northern Minnesota
and northern Wisconsin. At the same time he has associated with him
several very active insurance men, and they are assisting him in main-
taining the very creditable record established by the agency in the past.
Mr. Shambeau since coming to Duluth has identified himself with the
best interests of the city and the citizens, was a member of several patri-
otic organizations during the World war, and was one of the organizers of
the New Lion Club, a civic organization composed of some of the finest
types of Duluth American citizenship. He is also a member of several
other clubs and commercial and fraternal organizations.
James A. Starkweather made a definite choice of a career as an
educator when a young man. For all the financial sacrifice that such a
choice imposes he has compensating satisfaction and honors during the
nearly twenty years he has devoted to his work in the schoolroom and
in administrative offices. Mr. Starkweather has been connected with the
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 947
school system of Ehiluth for the past four years and is assistant super-
intendent of schools.
He was born at Divernon, IlHnois, December 30, 1876, son of Daniel H.
and Sarah (Utt) Starkweather, the former a native of Illinois and the
latter of Kentucky. Old records show that the first American Stark-
weathers were established in Boston as early at 1640. Professor Stark-
weather's grandparents drove an ox team and rode in a covered wagon
all the way from Vermont to Jersey County, Illinois, where they were
pioneer settlers. His maternal grandparents were Kentucky pioneers.
Mr. Starkweather's father is still living and is one of the oldest resi-
dents of Sangamon County, Illinois, in which is located the state capital,
Springfield. His life has been expressed in substantial industry and posi-
tive and earnest convictions and influences that tend to elevate the stan-
dard of living in American communities. For twenty-one years he served
as justice of the peace in his township and for twenty-four years on the
district school board. His business has been that of farming. He cast
his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has never deviated
from Republican principles. Perhaps his greatest interest has been his
religious life and for many years he has been a leader in the Baptist
Church of his community and has helped establish three other Baptist
Churches in the county. Mr. Starkweather of Duluth says: "My earliest
recollection of father is that of his early rising Sunday morning when
we all prepared to drive five miles, often through mud hub deep, to the
Sunday School."
Next to the youngest in a family of four children, all of whom are
still living, James A. Starkweather had the environment of a southern
Illinois farm during his boyhood and attended country schools. At the
age of eighteen he entered the Academy of Shurtleff College at Alton, and
in six years he completed the equivalent of four years' high school and
four years' college work, graduating valedictorian of his class in 1901 and
with the A. B. degree. From Shurtleff College he entered directly into his
chosen vocation, taught at Albion, Illinois, and in September, 1902,
removed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was identified with the school life
of that city fifteen years. He was a teacher in high school, then grade
school principal, and finally junior high principal. While at Kalamazoo
he continued his studies through vacation periods, and in June, 1917, was
awarded the Master degree at Columbia University, New York.
Mr. Starkweather was called to Duluth as principal of the Lincoln
Junior High School in September, 1917. About a year later, in Novem-
ber, 1918, he was chosen for special work for the United States govern-
ment in the Department for Rehabilitation of Soldiers, and continued in
that work during the months immediately following the war. In August,
1919, Mr. Starkweather assumed his present duties as assistant superin-
tendent of schools.
He is a member of Ionic Lodge of Masons at Duluth, the Curling
Club, the Commercial Club, the Ridgewood Golf Club, and in politics is a
Republican.
Fred B. James is a pioneer of Ely. His name and activities have been
closely associated with every constructive phase in that community's
progress. He has done his share as an independent business man and also
as a public offilcial. He is the present city assessor of Ely. He entered
that office in 1916, and the responsibilities of his office have greatly in-
creased during his administration, the best index of which is the fact that
the assessed valuation of property in Ely has increased during that time
from $1,939,000 to $4,984,000.
Vol. Ill — 2
948 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mr. James was born in Cornwall, England, September 30, 1866, son
of Charles F. and Amelia (Harvey) James, the former a native of Corn-
wall and the latter of London. His father was in the jewelry business at
Truro, Cornwall. When Fred B. James was a child the family came to
America and settled at Evansville, Indiana, later at New Harmony, Indi-
ana, and from there removed to Decatur, Illinois, where Charles James
died in 1888, at the age of seventy-three. After his death most of the
family removed to Chicago.
Fred B. James acquired his early education at New Harmony, Indiana,
At the age of fifteen he began an apprenticeship to learn the painter's
trade with his uncle, S, C. James, at Evansville. As a journeyman or
contractor Mr. James was in the painting business altogether for a quar-
ter of a century. His business experience had a wide range, including
work and residence at St. Louis, in the Dakotas and at Chicago, and he
first "came to the Ranges of northern Alinnesota with his uncle, H. R.
Harvey. H. R. Harvey was a distinguished character in the mining dis-
trict, having had charge of the exploration work on the Ranges during
1873-1889 and also performed preliminary services before the opening
of the Zenith and Pioneer Mines at Ely.
Fred B. James first came to the Ranges in 1886, and lived here until
1892. The following eight years he spent in North Dakota and four years
in Chicago, and in 1904 returned to Ely, where he resumed his business
as a painter and contractor. Mr, James helped survey the townsite of
Ely, also to build the first house, and signed the petition for the incorpora-
tion of the village. He was for three terms a member of the City
Council. A public service to which he was greatly devoted was the five
years he spent as state game warden. In the discharge of his duties he
traveled all over the Lake district. Mr. James is regarded as a competent
authority on all the historical events that have transpired in this section
of the Range country. He is a Republican, and his family are Catholics.
In 1891, in North Dakota, Mr. James married Alice L. Cadieux,
daughter of Louis Cadieux. Her mother was a McCluskey, a niece of the
first American cardinal, McCluskey. Louis Cadieux came from France,
while his wife was born at Toronto, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. James have
six children. Fred C. was with a Minnesota regiment on the Mexican
border in 1916, and after helping train four outfits he went overseas to
France with Battery A of the 125th Field Artillery with the rank of top
sergeant. He was near the battle front when the armistice was signed.
He is now in the electrical supply business at Escanaba, Michigan. The
second child of Mr. James is Mercedes, wife of Albert Prisk, of Ely,
John H. lives at Ely, Alice is the wife of H. C. Liffingwell, of Minne-
apolis. Marjorie and Natalie, the youngest, are still in the home circle.
Hon. Hugh Fawcett, a representative from Duluth in the Legisla-
ture, has been a resident of the city nearly forty years, and independently
or working with others has been identified with a large and important
plan of building construction, including many of the prominent features of
the city's architecture both of the modern and pre-modern period.
Mr. Fawcett was born in England August 17, 1861. He is of English
Puritan ancestry, and his father was also a leading contractor, living at
Blackburn, where the family had resided for several generations, Hugh
Fawcett came to America alone in 1881, and for six months was em-
ployed as a carpenter, a trade he learned in England, at Toronto, Cauda.
In 1882 he moved to Duluth, and has ever since been engaged in some
phase of the building business. For two years he was foreman for John
Waddell, and then became associated with the firm of Waterworth & Fee,
contractors, during the construction of the Lincoln School and the Duluth
fi^H^aJt Iccuj^js^^^itr
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 949
Central High School. Following his work on these school buildings he
was engaged as superintendent of construction by the Duluth Board of
Education in 1890. Under his superintendency were erected the Adams,
Monroe, Jefferson, Webster, Bryan and Fairmount Schools. He resigned
as superintendent of construction to engage in the contracting business
with Mr. H. Pearson, under the name Pearson & Fawcett. To this firm
are credited the building of the Public Library and a number of large
structures in the city. Since the dissolution of the partnership Mr. Faw-
cett has continued business alone, and has developed a highly expert and
adequate organization for handling the best class of building contracts.
Much of his work has continued in school building construction, and the
record includes the high school, county building and grade school at
Two Harbors, the Courthouse at Hibbing, the Public Library at Buhl,
the High School at Tower, and many of the modern structures on
Superior street in Duluth. The present program on which his organiza-
tion is engaged includes the erection of two school houses, the Franklin
and the Liberty, at Duluth, and a grade school at McKinley, Minnesota.
For a number of years Mr. Fawcett's business headquarters have been in
the Mesaba Block in Duluth.
An able business man, known as an organizer and executive, Mr. Faw-
cett had every qualification for good work in the Legislature. He was
elected and has served during the 1919-21 session in the House of Repre-
sentatives from the 58th District. His attitude as a legislator is reflected
in the deep interest in the Compensation Law, the Soldiers' Bonus and the
law regulating cold storage as a factor in the high cost, of living problem,
the theory being that reducing the time for storage would prevent hoard-
ing of products from the markets. He was opposed to the Tonnage Tax.
Mr. Fawcett is affiliated with Palestine Lodge No. 79, A. F. and A. M.
On November 13, 1883, in the Baptist Church of Duluth, he married
Miss Emily King, whose people came from England. She has been
greatly devoted to her home and family through all her married life.
Four children were born to their marriage, Emelia, William, Fred and
Gilbert. Emelia is Mrs. William Killgore, living in the Bergman Flats.
William died of typhoid fever. Fred is foreman of bricklayers in his
father's organization. Gilbert is private secretary to a railway executive
in California. All the children were given high school educations.
Charles Zalmon Wilson has been identified with the citizenship of
Duluth and St. Louis County for only half a dozen years, but had long
training and increasing responsibilities in the service of the United States
Steel Corporation elsewhere, and his special qualifications as a mercantile
manager were the reasons for his selection for an important post under
that corporation in the Duluth district.
Mr. Wilson was born at Scottdale, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1876,
being the youngest of a family of six children, four sons and two daugh-
ters. His father. Perry B. Wilson, was a man of great strength of char-
acter and benevolent disposition, was a cooper by trade in the days
when the work of that craft was done exclusively by hand, and was
regarded as a genius in that line. He was of Scotch parentage and was
born February 20, 1834, and died September 8, 1913, when nearly eighty
years of age. He had lived for forty-five years on Walnut Hill, a beau-
tiful home a mile east of Scottdale. During the Civil war he served as a
volunteer of the 85th Pennsylvania Volunteers, enlisting in Company K
of that regiment under Captain H. Zalmon Ludington (for whom his
son was named), and Colonel Joshua B. Howell, on November 6, 1861.
Among the battles in which he participated were the siege of Yorktown ;
. Williamsburg, May 5, 1862; Bottom Bridge, May 20th; Fair Oaks, May
950 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
21st; seven days retreat, June 26th-July 1st; Fredericksburg, December
13th; White Hall, December 17th; Blackwater and Savage Station. In
one battle the small finger on his left hand was shot off, and he con-
tracted rheumatism that disabled him for work the rest of his life. He
was honorably discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability February
17, 1863. November 15, 1892, the family was presented with his war
record as an object lesson of patriotism. This record is an easel monu-
ment now highly prized by his son, C. Z. Wilson.
Perry B. Wilson married Sarah Clark April 26, 1863. She was born
in County Down, Ireland, June 24, 1843, coming to this country when
nine years of age. She died February 20, 1907. Her memory is cherished
as that of a good mother, industrious in the home, and she constantly
derived pleasure for herself by helping others and through her interest in
church duties. Of the six children of these parents a daughter, Elmeda
ii. Wilson, died at the family residence on Walnut Hill November 6,
1916, at the age of forty-three. A son, Harry_ C. Wilson, who was prom-
inent in business and social affairs, died at Greensburg, Pennsylvania,
July 30, 1917, survived by his wife and one grown daughter. The living
members of the family are: Mrs. Elizabeth Heney, of Scottdale; Abram
C, superintendent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Pitcairn,
Pennsylvania, married Ida M. Flack and has a family of seven children;
Chester R., engaged in the hardware, automobile and insurance business
at Avonmore, Pennsylvania ; and Charles Z.
Perry B. Wilson in politics was a Republican. Throughout western
Pennsylvania he _was well known for his loyalty to party and his broad
knowledge of public affairs. He was never known to miss casting his
ballot at all elections, and at times got out of a sick bed to be driven to
the polls.
Charles Z. Wilson was deprived of the opportunities of a college edu-
cation, but attended the little country school on Walnut Hill, where he
gained knowledge of the fundamentals of reading, writing, spelling, gram-
mar, arithmetic, geography, history and physiology. He had abundant
opportunity to work, and industry, together with the courage to dare to
do, have perhaps been the chief features of his success in life. During
school vacations he worked in coal mines. On completing his common
school education at the age of sixteen he received a county school super-
intendent teacher's certificate, with a high percentage, though on account
of his youth he was unable to qualify as a teacher. This led him to
apply for work in a grocery store, and he began driving a delivery wagon,
later was promoted to clerk in the same store at $20 a month, and before
the year was out he joined A. Overholt & Company's general store at
West Overton, Pennsylvania, the same locality, by the way, in which the
late steel magnate, Henry Clay Frick, was born. While there Mr. Wilson
gained a general knowledge of all lines of merchandising, and after the
day's routine of duties he did book work for the firm at night. This was
the sphere of his activity until he resigned to go to war, enlisting with the
10th Pennsylvania Infantry at the beginning of the Spanish-American
war. He was rejected because he was under weight, and a month after
leaving the store he entered business for himself, buying the shoe stock
of Byrnes Brothers on Pittsburgh street, Scottdale. He handled this en-
terprise very successfully for two years, then sold out to Charles Herbert,
of Scottdale, and began what has proved a long and uninterrupted service
with the United States Steel Corporation. He was first assigned to the
general store at Hazlett, Pennsylvania, ten months later was commis-
sioned with the duty of opening a store at Alverton in that state, and
after getting the business properly stocked and organized and in a little
less than a year was again transferred to a n.ew store at Marguerite, Penn-
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 951
sylvania. Here a beautiful new building and equipment was turned over
to Mr Wilson, and for four years he was in full charge, his ability, natural
and acquired by experience, then securing his promotion to Bridgeville,
near Pittsburgh, where he opened two new stores for the corporation, and
successfully managed them for thirteen years.
On leaving Bridgeville to come to Duluth, the Carnegie Signal Item
of December 30, 1915, pubHshed the following leader article: "C. Z.
Wilson, an employe of the United States Steel Corporation for seventeen
years, has been very highly honored for his faithful services bv being
appointed to a responsible position for the same company at Duluth. Mr.
Wilson came to Bridgeville twelve years ago from Scottdale, a son of the
late Perry B. Wilson, who was a member of the 85th Pennsylvania Volun-
teers in the Civil war. C. Z., as he is familiarly known, had charge of
the mercantile interests for the Union Supply Company at Sygan, Penn-
sylvania. His personality, honest, upright dealings in business with all
classes of pepole had won for him the real friendship of everyone in the
Millers Run district, and all are sorry to see him leave. Mr. Wilson will
be missed among the poor, as he was always mindful of looking after
the sick and needy. Enthusiasm with proper direction and keen interest
in all matters of business and otherwise gained success for him during the
twelve years of service in our neighborhood. It would be considered
selfish to not wish him well in his new field, knowing full well that he is a
man to make friends wherever he goes. Mr. Wilson was school director
of South Fayette township and re-elected at the last election by the
largest vote cast for any one candidate on the ticket. The editor has had
the pleasure of visiting Mr. Wilson several times at Christmas and see
him handle the hundreds of children and grown people that it was the
custom for years to make happy at Chritsmas with the treat furnished
for the purpose by the Union Supply Company."
In November, 1915, Mr. Wilson reached Duluth for the purpose of
taking charge of the Lake View Store at Morgan Park. In half a dozen
years he has achieved something worthy of a long memory in St. Louis
County. Through his management of the Lake View store at Morgan
Park he has gained a wide and admiring following of friends. He pos-
sesses an inspiring personality, never failing geniality, patience, tolerance
and charity, and firmly believes that no man is big enough to be independ-
ent of others. In less than a year after coming to Duluth he supervised
the building, planned and purchased the entire equipment and stock of
merchandise for all departments, systematized the plan for operating and
organized a sales force for handling the business. This is now an institu-
tion known throughout the state, and people come from far and near to
learn the systematic operation of the store, where well trained employes
and discipline give efficiency in every department. As a merchant Mr.
Wilson caters to the patrons' requirements, anticipates his merchandise
wants well in advance, and has a thorough knowledge of merchandise and
market conditions. Traveling salesmen have frequently expressed them-
selves in praise of this Minnesota merchant because of his congenial and
diplomatic manner of handling all matters pertaining to a store. Though
a very busy man, everyone is extended a courteous welcome to his private
ofifice. He realizes one important definition of a successful executive,
being prompt in decision and quick in action, and through experience
makes few mistakes. When his word is given it is as good as a Govern-
ment bond. He is happy and cheerful, and this quality of his disposition
radiates over everything and everyone with whom he comes in contact.
Faithful to every trust and duty, by strict application to business for many
years he has realized a very high standard of efficiency and also a broad
952 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
knowledge of the complicated problems involved in successful merchan-
dising.
Mr. Wilson is active in social and fraternal affairs, thoroughly public
spirited, and a worker for everything that makes a better community. He
is affiliated with Lafayette Lodge No. 652, F. and A. M., at Carnegie,
Pennsylvania ; Gourgas Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rite at Pitts-
burgh, Aad Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Duluth, was one of the organ-
izers and charter members of Duluth Forest No. 47, Tall Cedars of
Lebanon, a member of the New Duluth-Gary Commercial Club, Morgan
Park Club and Good Fellowship Club of Morgan Park. He is a member
of the Presbyterian Church of Duluth, his letter having been transferred
from the Bethany Presbyterian Church of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, a
short time after he moved to Duluth.
During the World war he was active in promoting all movements in-
cluded in the Government plan of prosecuting the war to success. He
was appointed United States food administrator as merchant representa-
tive of the Food Administration for the Morgan Park Division for Duluth,
including Smithville, Fond du Lac, Gary and New Duluth. The Duluth
Evening Herald said: "Mr. Wilson's appointment was due to the way
in which he had been carrying out the ideas of the Food Administration.
On his own initiative he undertook educational work and prepared in-
struction letters which he sent out to the people in his section. His work
has been both patriotic and efficient, Food Administration officials declare."
At Cumberland, ]\Iaryland, October 16, 1903, Mr. Wilson married
Daisy Dean ^McDowell, of Pleasant Unity, Pennsylvania. The home of
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson is at 126 North Boulevard, Morgan Park. Mrs.
Wilson is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank ^McDowell. Her father up
to the time of his death in 1900 was a professor in Indiana schools. Her
mother makes her home at present with Mrs. Wilson.
Peter L. De\'oist is a man of wide business experience, not only in
general commercial operations but particularly in the timber industry.
He has handled the timber operations of a number of corporations in the
Range country of northern Michigan and Minnesota, and is in charge of
that department for the Mesaba-Cuyuna Iron Land Company, with offices
in the Sellwood Building at Duluth.
Mr. DeVoist, who is of Huguenot descent, was born in New York
state January 12, 1857, and was about thirteen years of age when he
came west to Michigan. He finished his education in that state and there
for twelve years was in the mercantile business. From there he came to
Duluth and became chief clerk in the timber department of the Oliver
Iron Mining Company. For a time he was an employe in a mercantile
house at Duluth, and then became superintendent of the Mashek Lumber
Company at Chisholm. Since 1918 he has been in charge of the mineral
and timber lands of the Mesaba-Cuyuna Iron Land Company and has
arranged for the leasing of valuable properties on the iron ranges.
Mr. DeVoist was married December 31, 1890, to Miss Ida E. LeDuc,
of Michigan. Her father moved to Michigan from Quebec, Canada, her
mother being of German descent.
John E. Porthan is a merchant and is manager of the Finnish
Stock Company of Ely.
This company was. organized in March, 1899, to do a general merchan-
dise business. Its organizers were John E. Porthan, Andrew Watilo and
Eric Lund. Their joint capital was only thirteen hundred dollars. The
business has grown and expanded, and the company is now one of the
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 953
most prosperious of those performing a mercantile service in the Range
district. The company owns its fine storeroom and warehouses.
John E. Porthan was born in Finland in 1871. He acquired his edu-
cation in Finland and was unable to speak a word of English when he
reached the United States in 1890, at the age of nineteen. His first loca-
tion was at Lead in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where for six
months he was a railroad laborer. In February, 1891, he arrived at Ely
and went to work in the Chandler Mine. For the next eight years his
was a process of earning and saving, a grov/ing knowledge of American
life and ways, and a broadly extending acquaintance with the men of his
district. Thus he was well qualified to prosecute to success the business
of which he has been manager since 1899.
Mr. Porthan also served as a member of the City Council at Ely for
four years. He is a member and one of the trustees of the Finnish
Evangelical Lutheran Church, is a member of the Finnish Society K. R.
and the Temperance Society.
In 1893 he married Edla M. Kinnari, also a native of Finland. They
have a large family of eight living children. Their son George E. joined
the Third Minnesota Regiment in 1917, was trained at Camp Cody, New
Mexico, and thence sent with six hundred replacement troops to France
in June, 1918. He was in the battles of the Aisne and the Argonne
Forest, and wounds received at the battle front caused his death Feb-
ruary 3, 1919. He had been transferred from the Third Minnesota to
Battery B of the Artillery and later to the Infantry. Another son, Matt,
was a member of the Students Army Training Corps at the State Uni-
versity.
Alfred S. Diehl is a graduate engineer from the University of
Wisconsin and left the university to become identified withi the Oliver
Iron Mining Company. In the service of that great corporation he has
risen to the' post and responsibilities of chief engineer of the Hibbing
district.
Mr. Diehl was born at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, October 30, 1877, son
of Samuel and Annie (Dorner) Diehl. His parents were both born in
this country of remote German ancestry. Samuel Diehl was a machinist
by trade and during the greater part of his active life was employed
in railroad work. He died in 1890 at the age of forty-two.
One of four children, Alfred S. Diehl was thirteen years old when
his father died. In 1894 he graduated from high school at Elroy, Wis-
consin, and almost immediately had to secure work and from boyhood
has depended upon his own exertions and has relied upon himself to
realize his plans and ambitions. Up to the age of twenty-one he worked
at whatever employment offered the most money and the most oppor-
tunity. In 1898 he went into the United States railway mail service,
and continued therewith for five years. Realizing that this service offered
no advancement for a future worth while, he resigned and used what
capital he had been able to accumulate to put him through the University
of Wisconsin. In 1907 he graduated in the civil engineering course and
. already had become identified with the Oliver Iron Mining Company.
During the summers of 1905 and 1906 he was connected with the engi-
neering department of that company at Coleraine, Minnesota. A few
months after graduating Mr. Diehl returned to Coleraine in August,
1907, and was on the engineering staff of the company in different capac-
ities until 1912. when he was appointed chief engineer of the Canisteo
District. In May, 1920. he was transferred to his present duties as chief
engineer of the Hibbing District.
954 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mr. Diehl is a member of the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota,
and also the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers.
He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Congregational Church
and a Republican voter. On August 24, 1915, he married Miss Bonnie
Jones, of Coleraine. Minnesota.
Fr.\nk Augustine Wildes of Hibbing, well known in the Range
country both as a lawyer and mining engineer, has spent most of his
life inMinnesota and was a teacher before he began the practice of law.
He was born at I'hippsburg. Maine, May 28, 1871. son of Frank A.
and Emily Virginia (Burke) Wildes. Both his father and his maternal
grandfather fought as soldiers on the Union side during the Civil war.
His ancestry goes back to England but the family was planted in the
Colonies of Massachusetts and Maryland, and some of the family were
represented by soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
Frank A. Wildes attended the common schools of Minnesota, and
after graduating from the State Normal School of Mankato in 1894
pursued the vocation of teaching for a number of years as a superin-
tendent of public schools. In the meantime he took up the study of
law, and in 1904 received the LL.B. degree from the University of Minne-
sota. Since coming to the Range country much of his work has been
done in organizing and developing the Mineral Lands Department of
the state of Minnesota, and he has served as superintendent of mines
in that department.
Mr. Wildes is a director of the Minnesota Federation of Architects
and Engineers Society, is a member of the Engineers Club of Northern
Minnesota, the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engi-
neers, belongs to the Bar Association, the Hibbing Commercial Club, the
Hibbing Kiwanis Club, and to the University of Minnesota Alumni Asso-
ciation.' Mr. Wildes is an honorary thirty-third degree Scottish Rite
Mason, served as master of Mesaba Lodge No. 255 at Hibbing in 1913,
and was venerable master of Iron Range Lodge of Perfection No. 8
at Hibbing from 1909 to 1912. He is a member of the Shrine and
Acacia Fraternity. Politically he is a Republican.
On September 7, 1909, at Hibbing, he married Edith Lany Bush,
daughter of Hezekiah and Helen M. (Childs) Bush. Her father was a
Civil war veteran. Mrs. Wildes, who is a graduate of Carleton College,
is the mother of one daughter, Helen Virginia Wildes.
Allan R. Macaulay. One of the leading business men and best
known citizens of Duluth is Allan R. Macaulay, manager of the firm of
Logan and Bryan, dealers in stocks, bonds and grain, with offices in
Duluth, and all principal cities in the United States and Canada.
Mr. Macaulay has succeeded in his business because he has been persist-
ent and energetic and honorable in his dealings with the public, and
he has therefore had the confidence and good will of all, which are
indispensable factors if one succeeds in any line where the public has
to be depended upon.
Allan R. Macaulay was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 24, 1886,
and at the age of two years was brought to the United States by his
parents, who located in Duluth. His father first became a partner in
the Messick Commission Company, under the firm name of Messick &
Macaulay, which association lasted for eight years. He then formed a
connection with the Victor Commission Company, with which he re-
mained identified until 1912, when he retired and is now living in Duluth,
at the age of fifty-eight years. He is the father of six children, all of
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 955
whom are living and of whom the subject of this sketch was the first
bom.
Allan R. Macaulay received his educational training in the public
schools of Duluth, having reached the Junior High School. After leaving
school he started to work for the North American Telegraph Company
as a messenger boy, and afterward learned telegraphy. He then turned
his attention to baseball, in which he became a professional player, first
around Duluth and then in the Western Canadian League, with which
he played for two years, or up to 1913, as second baseman and outfielder.
He then again took up telegraphy, working for the Associated Press
Until 1917, when he engaged in the stock brokerage business with the
firm of R. W. Harrington, with whom he remained about a year. He
then organized the Culbertson-Macaulay Company, dealers in stocks,
bonds and grain, Mr. Culbertson being later succeeded by 'M. Bliss Rob-
inson, under the style of Robinson-Macaulay Company, and they con-
tinued in this business until 1920, when Logan & Bryan opened their
office here, with Mr. Macaulay as manager. Mr. Macaulay has been
deeply interested in the growth and development of Duluth, having
assisted in the promotion of various business enterprises. He is also
one of the promoters of the Inter-Southern Oil and Refining Company.
Politically he is a Republican, while fraternally he is a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (Blue Lodge and Chapter), the .
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Clan Stewart. He
is also a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Duluth Curling Club and the
Duluth Boat Club. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian
Church.
On June 15, 1914, Mr. Macaulay was married to Marie Smith, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Smith, of Superior, Wisconsin, in the
public and high schools of which city she received her education. To
them have been born two children, namely: Jane, born March 9, 1915,
and Donald, born on April 7, 1918. Mr. Macaulay has been distinctively
a man of afi"airs, wielding a wide influence among those with whom he
has been associated, ever having the welfare of his community at heart
and doing what he could to aid in its advancement. Sound judgment
and keen discrimination have characterized his business actions, and he
enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
C. Ray Pattinson. Among the recent acquisitions of the realty
business at Duluth is C. Ray Pattinson, who during a short but remark-
ably active and progressive career has advanced steadily to a leading
position among the younger generation of operators of the city. He was
born July 31, 1886, at Duluth, a son of Charles D. Pattinson.
Charles D. Pattinson was born at Carlisle, Cumberland, England,
and as a young man came to the United States, where he first found
employment in the locomotive shops at Pittsburgh. Later he turned his
attention to railroading, which he followed for about thirty-five years.
He operated one of the first trains that ran into Duluth on the Northern
Pacific Railroad, at that time the old St. Paul & Duluth, and was the
first yardmaster for the Northern Pacific at the West End yards and
helped lay the foundation for the terminal at that end of the city. He
took up his permanent residence at Duluth in 1908, but is now retired
from active pursuits and resides at the Metropole Hotel, being seventy-
six years of age. Of the five children two daughters and a son still
survive, the daughters having been formerly teachers in the public
schools of Duluth.
956 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
The youngest of his parents' children. C. Ray Pattinson secured his
education in the pubHc schools of Duluth, and after graduating from
the Central High School went to work for the Duluth Water and Light
Company. There his industry, ability and fidelity gained him promotion
to the office of assistant secretary, but in 1917 he resigned this position
and entered the real estate business with Prindle & Company, a concern
with which he remained two years. When Earl E. and Harold H. Pat-
tinson, sons of the late W. H. Pattinson, returned from service in the
United States Navy, C. Ray Pattinson joined them, March 1, 1919, in
the formation of the Pattinson Realty Company, which operates the
Pattinson Estate, representing about $1,000,000 worth of property in
the Twin Ports, and also handles other rentals for apartment houses and
represents several insurance companies. During the first year of its
business life this concern transacted about $1,500,000 worth of business,
the largest sale being that of the Lyceum Theatre Building to the Clin-
ton-Meyers Company for a consideration of $325,000. Mr. Pattinson
was one of the promoters of the Pioneer Improvement Company for the
purpose of building an apartment house on East London Road, an
enterprise which will be completed within another year. He was like-
wise the promoter of the Duluth Office Men's Association, of which he
was elected president, an organization consisting of about 200 profes-
sional and office men. He has belonged to the Masons since 1906 and
has attained the Scottish Rite degree, and belongs to the Lions Club as
a member of the Board of Directors. His religious affiliation is with
the Episcopal Church and his political tendencies make him independent
in his support of candidates and principles.
Mr. Pattinson was married April 14, 1911, to Miss Gladys Rees, of
Pittsburgh, whose parents were natives of Wales, her father being a
veteran of the Civil war. Prior to her marriage she had been a stenog-
rapher in the employ of the United States Steel Corporation.
F. D. Orr for upwards of forty years has been doing business in the
mining districts and ranges of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, pri-
marily in the sale of explosives used in mining operations. For many
years past he has been manager of the Duluth headquarters of the DuPont
industries.
Mr. Orr was born in Oneida County, New York, January 26, 1857.
His grandfather came to this country from Ireland. The father, Charles
Orr, was also born in New York, was a mechanic by trade, and died
in 1874. He was the father of three sons and two daughters, and all
but one of the sons are still living.
Second in this family, F. D. Orr was reared and educated in the
east, and was about seventeen years of age when his father died. He
then went out to live with an uncle on a farm at Northfield, Minnesota,
attended school for a time, and for five years worked in a cheese fac-
tory. In 1881 Mr. Orr went to Cleveland, Ohio, and after a brief serv-
ice as clerk in a store was sent to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,
selling townsites for an iron company.
He left the townsite business to become salesman for the Atlantic
Dynamite Company, selling explosives in the Gogebic Iron Range. That
was the beginning of the business which he has followed ever since.
Many years ago he entered the service of the DuPont Company. While
the name DuPont is most familiarly associated with powder and other
explosives, yet is, as a matter of fact, synonymous with a diversified
industry comprehending a tremendous range of products, including
explosives, chemicals, coated textiles and other materials and commodi-
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 957
ties. Since 1914 Mr. Orr has been manager of the Duluth office of the
DuPont Company in the Hartley Building. Through this office more
explosives are sold than in any other office of the DuPont Company,
and thus Mr. Orr has a special post of honor and consideration with
this great American industry. As an auxiliary of the Duluth service
there is maintained a special fleet of motor trucks for the expeditious
and prompt handling of explosives required on the iron ranges.
Mr. Orr has been a resident of Duluth for many years and takes
much pride in the city and is closely identified with civic organizations,
including the Duluth Commercial Club, the Northland Country Club,
the Kitchi Gammi Club and the Duluth Boat Club.
Henry John Merdink is a capable lawyer at Ely, where he has
been in active practice since 1915. Thoroughly equipped and trained
for the legal profession, he is a man of leadership as well in community
afifairs, and his devotion to the common welfare has been abundantly
proved since he began his professional career in the Range district.
Mr. Merdink is a native of Minnesota, born at Stephen, June 11,
1891, son of John Henry and Jane (Sangster) Merdink, the former a
native of New York state, of Holland Dutch ancestry, and the latter
born in Scotland. Mr. Merdink's grandfather moved out to Wisconsin
before there was a single line of railway west of Chicago, and home-
steaded land within the limits of the present city of Milwaukee. He
was a farmer, and not finding the land fertile enough he abandoned that
locality and moved to what is now Baldwin in St. Croix County. Sub-
sequently Grandfather Merdink enlisted as a Union soldier, and he died
from wounds received at Gettysburg.
John Henry Merdink grew up on a farm, spent many years as a
practical farmer, and after moving to Stephen, Minnesota, established
a feed and flour mill. He is still living there at the age of seventy, and
his wife is sixty-four. He is a Republican, has been a delegate to vari-
ous conventions of his party, has served as president of the village and
a member of the Council and on the School Board. John Henry Merdink
and wife have three children: Mary J., wife of David L. Eastburn, of
Circle, Montana ; George W., a farmer at Stephen, Minnesota ; and
Henry John.
Henry John Merdink graduated from the Stephen High School in
1908. Soon afterward he entered the University of Minnesota, pursuing
the literary and law courses, and was graduated in 1913. The same year
he removed to the Range to practice law and for a time was in partner-
ship with Judge R. J. Montague at Virginia. There he was assistant
city attorney and in April, 1915, moved to Ely, where in addition to
a general practice he was city attorney from 1916 to 1920 and also from
1916 has been secretary of the Commercial Club and has had much to
do in making that an effective instrument to promote the commercial and
civic welfare of Ely.
While in school Mr. Merdink was an all-around athlete, and was a
member of the hockey, baseball, football and basketball teams, and at
the university was a member of the track and cross-country teams and
held the state record in the mile run. He was one of the very enthu-
siastic men of St. Louis County in promoting the objects of the Gov-
ernment during the World war. A defect of the eyes prevented his early
enlistment. Subsequently he had the defect cured. In the meantime he
was instrumental in the organization and served as color sergeant of
the Home Guards and as advisor and United States appeal agent for
the local Draft Board. In 1918 he waived deferred classification and
958 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
took the soldiers' oath of allegiance and was ordered and was on the
way to Camp Taylor, Kentucky, to enter the Officers Training Camp
when the armistice was signed. Mr. Murdink is a Republican, a thirty-
second degree Mason and Shriner, and a Knight of Pythias. In June,
1916, he married Bertha M. Dykeman, daughter of E. L. Dykeman, of
Stephen, Minnesota.
Carl Pearson is the active head of Olof Pearson & Son, contractors
and builders at 209-211 Lake avenue. North, in Duluth. This is a
business that represents a high-class specialty in building construction,
comprising an organization of expert and skilled carpenters and cabinet
makers, and prepared to give prompt and efficient service in the best
classes of repairing and remodeling as well as all general carpenter work.
The founder of the business was the late Olof Pearson, who was born
in Sweden and came to America alone in 1884. After several years in
the eastern states he went out to North Dakota in 1888, and had the
management of a large farm for a time. In 1890 he engaged in the
building and contracting business under his own name, working alone
three years, then one year with a partner, again alone for himself at
19 Second avenue, West, for about five years, and then moved to 207
West First street. Olof Pearson died in 1916. He married Fredericka
Bowman, and had eight children, five of whom are still living.
Carl Pearson was born at Duluth, March 15, 1894, had a public
school education and as a boy worked for his father and acquired pro-
ficiency in all branches of carpentry and building. At the age of eighteen
he went with another firm for a year and a half, then moved away from
Duluth for two years, and on returning to the city joined his father
in the firm of Olof Pearson & Son. and that organization and title he
still maintains. The business employs about twenty expert men and has
proved itself thoroughly competent in the handling of contracts.
Mr. Pearson is a Republican voter. On August 5. 1916, he mar-
ried Miss Lillian E. Olsen. Her father, John Olsen, came to America
in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have one daughter, Marjorie W., and also
one son, Robert H.
William C. Toben, sales manager of the Certain-teed Products Corp-
oration at Duluth, has been identified with this concern since 1915, and
has contributed materially to the success of a concern which now manu-
factures about one-third of the roofing and building paper used in the
United States. Mr. Toben was born at 209 Third avenue. East, Duluth,
September 15, 1889. a son of Bernard and Emma (Sugg) Toben, natives
respectively of Illinois and Wisconsin. Bernard Toben has been a resi-
dent of Duluth for about thirty-three years, during the major portion
of which time he has been a retail dealer in meats. He still survives at
the age of fifty-nine years, his wife being fifty-six years of age. They
had seven children, William C. being the second in order of birth.
William C. Toben received good educational advantages in his youth,
and is a graduate of the Duluth High School, the University of Califor-
nia and the Houghton School of Mines. At the age of twenty years he
embarked in civil engineering, which he followed as a profession for
three years, the next two years being spent in association with his father.
During the trouble on the Mexican border he served one year, and
on his return joined the Certain-teed Products Corporation. He was
with this concern until he enlisted in the United States Army, infantry
branch, in April, 1918, and was assigned for instructive work at Camp
Lewis. After eleven months in the service he received his honorable dis-
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 959
charge andVeturned to the Certain-teed Products Corporation, and was
appointed sales manager January 14, 1920, a position which he has since
filled with excellent ability.
The Certain-teed Products Corporation was organized by George
M. Brown of Saint Louis in the year 1904, under the name of General
Roofing Manufacturing Company, a name under which it continued for
about twelve years, during which time it had grown to be the leading
manufacturer in roofing and building papers in the United States. The
organization consisted at that time of thirty-six sales offices and forty-
two warehouses. During this time the company confined itself to the
manufacture of the highest grade of prepared roofing, the principal parts
of the manufacture of which were the making of a rag felt and the
proper saturation and coating thereof with a correct blend of asphalt.
In 1916 the company was reorganized as the Certain-teed Products Corp-
oration, and to its line of roofing and building papers added a complete
line of paints and varnishes. The number of sales offices have been in-
creased from thirty-six to thirty-nine, and forty-six warehouses are now
being operated. These warehouses and sales offices are located all over
the United States. During the period of its operation the company has
grown from the very smallest in its line to a point w^here at the present
it is manufacturing about one-third of the roofing and building paper
sold in the United States. The company established a sales office and
warehouse at Duluth in May, 1915. This office has always been located
in the Sellwood Building, and the present location of the warehouse is
at 122 East Michigan street. The Duluth office was opened, under the
direction of L. R. Walker of Saint Louis, by J. R. Pflueger.
Mr. Toben joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity during his college
days, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. His religious faith
is that of the Catholic Church. On February 14, 1920, he was married
at Minneapolis to Miss Gladys Millen, a daughter of John G. Millen.
Herbert S. King. During the past thirty years several members
of the King family have had an important share of the technical work
and official administration of the mining districts of northern Minnesota.
One of them, Herbert S. King, had a long and intensive training in
mining affairs here and is now superintendent of the Chandler Mining
Company of Ely,.
He was born at Negaunee. Michigan, September 2, 1887, son of
Henry and Rachel (Gordon) King. His parents were Canadians from
the Province of Quebec, lived in Michigan for a number of years, and
in 1892 removed to the Mesaba Range, locating at Virginia. Henry King
has been connected with steam shovel operations in the mining district
and has been employed by nearly all the iron companies here. He is
now sixty-four and his wife fifty-four. Both are devout Presbyterians
and he was an official member of the church for a number of years. They
had a family of three sons and two daughters. Alexander, the oldest, is
a highly trained technical man in mining afifairs, being a graduate of
the Minnesota State University and the Colorado School of Mines, and
is now superintendent of the Holman Mine of the Oliver Iron Mining
Company. Lillis King is the wife of Ray Fitzgibbons, of Monroe, Wis-
consin. Myrtle R. is a kindergarten teacher at Duluth and formerly
taught at Virginia. Ellard G. was a member of the Hospital Corps in
France, and while on the battle front was gassed, and the Government
is^now enabling him to complete his education in the University of Cali-
fornia at Berkeley.
960 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Herbert S. King was about five years old when the family moved
to Virginia, and he graduated from the schools of that city at the age
of eighteen. He then became a clerical worker in the office of the New
York State Steel Company at Virginia, remaining there two years, and
for four years did clerical work at the Commodore Mine at Virginia.
Since 1911 he has been in the offices of the Chandler Mining Company,
has made a thorough study of the business, and his quick comprehension
of responsibilities has brought him various promotions. For several
years he has been a member of the Board of Directors and since Janu-
ary, 1921, has been superintendent of the company.
Mr. King interests himself in various matters affecting the welfare
and progress of his community. He is one of the trustees of the Pres-
byterian Church, is a Republican and is a master of Ely Lodge of
Masons.
November 18, 1908, he married Miss Ruth Trimble, daughter of
B. M. Trimble. Mrs. King was born at Virginia and she and Mr. King
attended high school together. For two years she has been a member
of the Ely School Board. They have four children : Kathleen, David,
Audrey and Nancy.
Itasca Bazaar Company. The largest mercantile business on the
Mesaba Range, handling a general stock of dr^ goods, clothing, women's
ready to wear garments, millinery and house furnishings, is the Itasca
Bazaar Company, a strikingly successful mercantile enterprise, due to the
extraordinary energy and ability of a woman, Mrs. D. M. Power, who
has created and built up the store and is still its vital executive head.
A small dry goods and house furnishing establishment was organ-
ized at Hibbing under the name of The Bazaar in 1897 by Mrs. Dottie
M. Power. By 1911 she had acquired a controlling interest in the Itasca
Mercantile Company, and in 1913 became its sole owner. In the mean-
time, in 1911, the two stores had been combined as the Itasca Bazaar
Company, a name that has been continued. In 1920, owing to the
moving of old Hibbing, a new building was erected as an appropriate
home for his mercantile establishment at Third avenue and Howard
street. It is a two and a half story brick building, 100x125 feet.
Mrs. Power, who deserves all the credit for this interesting example
of commercial enterprise, was born in New York City and was a child
when she went west to Sands and later to Gladstone, Michigan, with her
parents, Thomas and Mary (Flynn) O'Connell. She graduated from
St. Joseph's Seminary at Marquette, and in 1896 was married to
W. J. Power of Hibbing.
Walter J. Power was born at Copper Harbor, Michigan, March 29,
1879, and is son of a distinguished lawyer and brother of Victor Power
of Hibbing, noted elsewhere in this publication. Walter J. Power was
educated in the public schools of Escanaba and Calumet, read law under
his father, and was admitted to the bar and has been in practice at Hib-
bing for over twenty years. He was associated with P. H. Nelson in
organizing the Merchants and Miners State Bank of Hibbing, and for
a year or so served as president of that institution.
Emil J. Zauft. To few men do various Minnesota counties owe
more for a practical demonstration of substantial and effective building
than to Emil J. Zauft. Skill, energy, resource and continual advancement
are levers in the constructive machinery of this master builder. He has
the natural pride of the true artisan, especially of one who uses his worth
to create, and who must needs be surrounded by his work in the future
J
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 961
and hear on all sides the estimate placed thereupon by the community.
Mr. Zauft was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin, was reared on a farm
at Baraboo, that state, and when sixteen years of age began an appren-
ticeship to the carpenter's trade, at the same time gaining a high school
education. When twenty-one years of age, in 1889, he came to West
Duluth and for three years worked as a journeyman carpenter. After
that he began jobbing in a small way and since then has steadily advanced
in his vocation, making his work of lasting good to the community. He
operates extensively in the building of schoolhouses and county court
houses in the state of Minnesota, as well as in Wisconsin, and among
the buildings to his credit are the Young Men's Christian Association
structures at Duluth and West Duluth. His offices are maintained at
No. 5613 Grand avenue.
During the early days of the village of West Duluth he was a mem-
ber of the Volunteer Fire Department and had command of the local
hook-and-ladder company. He served five years as a member of Com-
pany G, Minnesota National Guard, and held the rank of sergeant when
the company was disbanded. Mr. Zauft was one of the organizers of
the West Duluth Commercial Club, of which he was elected president
in 1916, is a member of the Duluth Commercial Club, the Duluth Boat
Club and the Duluth Rotary Club, and is president of the Duluth Build-
ers' Exchange. In 1914 he was president of the Minnesota Builders'
Exchange. He assisted in the organization of the Western Curling
Club and each year has appeared with a prize-wining rink at the North-
western Bonspiel. He has served as chancellor commander of Duluth
Lodge No. 123, Knights of Pythias, and twice has held the office of
noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1901 Mr. Zauft was united in marriage with Miss Florence Felt,
whose father was one of the pioneer settlers of Superior, Wisconsin.
George H. Lounsberry. On the basis of proved achievement and
accomplishment, the name of George H. Lounsberry is synonymous with
building construction in and around Duluth. As a general contractor
he has been in business many years, and probably no other contractor
can exhibit a better proportioned list and group of important building
work than Mr. Lounsberry.
He was born at Fairmont. Minnesota. April 29, 1869. a son of
Colonel C. A. and Victoria (Hoskins) Lounsberry. His father was a
native of the state of New York and his mother of Michigan. Colonel
Lounsberry has long been a prominent man in the northwestern country.
He was postmaster and at one time publisher of the Tribune at Bis-
marck, North Dakota, and about 1885 helped established the News
Tribune of Duluth. For many years past his home has been in the state
of W^ashington, where he does special land agent work and is now sev-
enty-six years of age. Of his five children four are living.
The second oldest of the family, George H. Lounsberry acquired his
early education in a seminary at Bismarck, North Dakota, but has been
practically earning his own living since he was ten years of age. As a
boy he carried messages and papers, and at the age of seventeen began
an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. He worked as a journeyman
seven years, and at Duluth entered building construction work with
George Smith, under the firm name of Lounsberry & Smith. This part-
nership continued four years and since then Mr. Lounsberry has been
in business alone as a general contractor. Since August, 1916, his
business offices and headquarters have been in his own building at 322
962 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
East Superior street. He is a master of details of every phase of the
building industry. He has assembled a large force of competent and
skilled workers, and has a large amount of capital invested in equipment
of every kind for the handling of some of the very largest contracts
involved in building construction. He has erected some of the largest
building blocks in Duluth, and a number of years ago carried out con-
tracts involving upwards of a million dollars in the construction of houses
of the "Model Town" of the United States Steel Corporation, has built
bridges and many public buildings, including U. S. Grant and Park Point
school houses, the telephone building at Duluth, and many others. Ten
years ago Mr. Lounsberry helped organize the \ erna Brick Company,
and is vice-president of that industry.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the various branches of Masonry,
including everything up to the thirty-third degree of the Scottish Rite.
He is a member of the Commercial Qub and the Builders Exchange
and is a Republican in political affiliations.
At Duluth July 15. 1896, he married Miss Margaret Harrington,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Harrington, who came from Ireland.
Four children have been born to their marriage : Paige Lounsberry, born
in 1898; Harlow, born in 1903; Sylvia, born in 1906; and Jessica, born
in 1910. The younger children are still attending school at Duluth, while
Paige, the oldest, after completing the work of the Duluth schools, fin-
ished his education in Culver Military Academy in Indiana and is now
associated with his father.
D. H. LoxERGAX is a highly qualified expert in all the complications
of mortgage loans, rentals, real estate and insurance, and with knowledge
he combines an exceptional energ}^- that has brought a tremendous volume
of business and effective enterprise to his organization.
Mr. Lonergan was born at South Bend, Indiana, July 29, 1886, and
began his business career practically as a wage earner. His parents
were James A. and Phoebe (Smith) Lonergan. His father for the
greater part of his life has been a landscape gardener for Notre Dame
University at South Bend, and is still living at the age of seventy-six.
Of his four children three are living, D. H. being the eldest.
He attended the parochial schools of South Bend, and at the age
of fourteen was earning his living and acquiring business training as
clerk in a dry goods store. Later he learned the trade of molder, which
he followed for seven years. Leaving his trade, he has engaged in the
ral estate and loan business, and had an experience in that line for seven
years before coming to Duluth. His specialty is real estate exchange,
and from a small beginning he has developed a volume of business
amounting to a million dollars annually. Some of the largest business
properties and most expensive residences have been handled by him
and he has shown a remarkable capacity to bring buyer and seller
together. While practically all his business is now concentrated at
Duluth, he also operated at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for several years.
Mr. Lonergan is married and has one daughter. Helen Phoebe.
William James Mudge. Few men cultivate more intensively the
opportunities of life than William James Mudge has done. Possessed
of an eager mind, an industrious disposition, an aspiring ambition, he
has worked faithfully where circumstances have placed him and has
prepared himself for other duties beyond and has had a most interesting
range of experience and achievement.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 963
Mr. Mudge, who is now superintendent in charge of the South
Chandler Mine in Ely, was born at Beeralstone, Devonshire, England,
July 25, 1862, son of William and Mary (Channon) Mudge. His mother
was also a native of Devonshire, while his father came from County
Kent and was an under captain in the Russell United Mines of Devon.
During his early manhood he also performed a mission as a special
agent of the British Government in the United States.
William James Mudge acquired his preliminary education at Gun-
nis Lake and took his grammar school work at Tavistock in Devon.
When he was twelve he joined the British Navy. His grammar school
education was finished while working on an eight-hour shift in the
mines. His mining experience covered several of the English mining
districts and when he first came to the United States he worked in
the mines at Mount Hope, New Jersey, and also in the copper mines at
Calumet, Michigan, and the silver mines at Park City, Utah. For a
time he was also engaged in construction work with the Flagler Railroad
on the coast of Florida.
Having in the meantime seen much of the world, Mr. Mudge returned
to England and for a year or so applied himself to the study of lan-
guages, science and theology, and fitted himself for the ministry of the
Bible Christian Church, becoming an evangelist. During a period of
three years as i means of self support he also worked in the Russell
United Mines and in other mines.
On his second trip to the United States Mr. Mudge located at Negau-
nee, Michigan, and for sixteen years was identified with that mining
district, holding among other positions that of head shift boss. During
the past twenty years his work as a miner has been in northern Minne-
sota. As a mine captain he opened the Hawkins Mine at Nashwauk
in 190L Under his superintendency the LaRue Mine was opened in
1903 and the Adriatic Mine at Mesaba in 1906. Sii>ce 1919 his duties
have been as superintendent of the South Chandler Mine at Ely.
In Devonshire Mr. Mudge married Mary Prout Hawkins Chapman.
She died while they were living at Nashwauk. Of their five children
four are living: Mrs. P. H. Hubbard, of Ely, whose husband is a con-
ductor on the Iron Range Railroad ; William, general foreman at Bab-
bitt ; Stanley Howard, now at Eveleth, who enlisted early in the war
with Germany, was in service for twenty-two months in the Philippines,
and received his discharge as an invalid; Norman E., who was in the
Students Army Training Corps at the State University, and is in the
insurance business; and Eugene, who died at Nashwauk in childhood.
In 1908 Mr. Mudge married Miss Ada Chapman, a sister of his first
wife.
Mr. Mudge is a Christian who makes his religion part of his daily
life. He is a devout Methodist, a teacher of the Bible Class and Sunday
School and of a men's class each Sunday afternoon. For some time
he has made it a practice to read the Bible through every year. He is
a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason and Odd
Fellow.
Mr. Mudge has performed much public service since coming to
Minnesota. While at Nashwauk he was clerk of the School Board
and clerk of the Township Board, served as president of the Town
Board at Mesaba for seven years, was president of the School Board
of District No. 13 for six years, for four years was president of the
County School Board, and for one year was president of the State Board
of Education. Recently he was appointed special judge at Ely.
Vol. Ill— 3
964 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
George E. Lehman. There are some people who express surprise
at the very remarkable development which has taken place in the Mesaba
Range, resulting^ in the creation of one of the finest little cities in the
world at Hibbing, and yet when a roster is compiled of the men who
are living in this part of St. Louis County the keen observer realizes
that this expansion is but the logical outcome of such an aggregation of
citizens, to whom progress comes as a matter of everyday endeavor. One
of these energetic and dependable men who has accomplished much dur-
ing the eighteen years he has been a resident of St. Louis County is
George E. Lehman, district road engineer for the Seventh Commission
District of the County. •
Born at Negaunee, Michigan, June 14, 1878, he is a native of the
north country. His parents were \\'illiam and Elizabeth (Heppe) Leh-
man, both of German nativity, but residents of the United States from
childhood. William Lehman is still living, although eighty-six years old,
and resides at Negaunee. but his wife is deceased. His chief work in
life was accomplished as a carpenter. During the war between the north
and the south he served in the Union army from Missouri.
George E. Lehman was reared in his native city, and after attending
its common and high schools became a student at the Northern State
Normal School at Marquette, Michigan. For six years subsequent to
the completion of his studies, he was a school teacher in Michigan, but
afterward became a civil and mining engineer, and with the idea of
securing employment in his professional capacity he came to Hibbing,
and for eighteen months was timekeeper for the Oliver Mining Com-
pany, during which time he secured an acquaintance which justified his
establishing himself in a general practice as a civil and mining engineer,
and continuing in it until 1916, when he received his present appointment
from the Board of Commissioners of Saint Louis County. His duty is
to have charge of the road work and bridge work of his district, and
through him much has been accomplished for this region. He is a thor-
oughly experienced man and capable of discharging the onerous respon-
sibilities of his office in a highly efficient manner and at the least cost
to the taxpayers.
Mr. Lehman is independent in his political affiliations. He belongs
to the Episcopal Church. The Masonic fraternity holds his membership
and he also belongs to the Commercial Club of Hibbing, the State Engi-
neers and Surveyors Society and the Northern Minnesota Engineers Club.
In 1911 Mr. Lehman was united in marriage with Miss Mary Isabella
Neely, of Negaunee, Michigan, and they have three children, namely :
Isabelle, Ray and Janet. Possessed of strong personality and extraordi-
nary abilities, he has won the confidence of all of his associates and has
become the moving spirit of his district in securing and completing pub-
lic improvements. «.
C. L. BuRMAX. One of the oldest established sheet metal concerns of
Duluth is that of C. L. Burman, the business title at present being Bur-
man & McGill, at 1625 \yest Superior street. Mr. Burman has been a
resident of Minnesota for upwards of thirty years and has spent most
of his active life as a sheet metal worker.
He was born in Sweden October 1, 1869, and was reared and edu-
cated in his native country. In 1891, at the age of twenty-two, he came
to the United States, joining his grandfather in Minnesota. He soon
located at St. Paul, and was employed there in the sheet metal trade for
five years. For a short time after that he was located in Montana, and
r^
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 965
at three different times, during 1892, 1894 and 1898, was in the service
of George Ralph, in a party of state engineers engaged in surveying
work in northern Minnesota. On moving to Duluth Mr. Burman en-
tered the sheet metal business and since 1908 has been contracting indi-
vidually. On March 25, 1919, he took in Mr. McGill as a partner, under
the firm name of Burman & McGill. Their establishment is at 1625 West
Superior street, and they have equipment for handling all classes of sheet
metal work and the business of heating and ventilating engineers.
Mr. Burman is independent in politics and is affiliated with the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In December, 1902, he married Miss
Lemberg. They have three children : Ethel, Mildred and Carl, all of
whom are students in the public schools of Duluth.
Ralph Fiscketti is a popular business man of Duluth and has been
well known in the city for the past twenty years.
He was born in Italy October 25, 1875, and came to America in
1900, locating among relatives and friends at Duluth. His people had
preceded him to this country by several years. Mr. Fiscketti learned the
cabinet maker's trade in the old country and after coming to Duluth
worked in a sash and frame factory three years, was with the Baxter
Sash and Door factory and also was a journeyman carpenter. He was
a very skillful man at his trade and competent for all branches of work.
Eventually he got into business for himself as proprietor of a lunch
stand at 529^^ Superior street, and has since given all his time to the
business of feeding the public.
In 1898 he married Miss Agnes Belfatto. They have three children:
Henry G., born in 1910; Lucy, born in 1912, and Gelde.
B. W. HiNTZ is active head of the Hintz-Cameron Company, whole-
sale and retail dealers in flour, feed, hay, millstuff, field and garden
seeds. Mr. Hintz has been in this business at Duluth for over ten
3^ears and prior to that had a widely varied commercial experience both
here and in other cities of the country.
He was born at Mansfield in Freeborn County, Minnesota, January
17, 1883, son of August and Louise (Jost) Hintz. His father, a native
of Germany, came to America alone about 1850 and spent a long and
active career as a farmer in Minnesota at Mansfield. He died in 1894.
Of his large family of thirteen children nine are still living, B. W. being
the youngest.
B. W. Hintz attended school at Mansfield, also acquired a portion
of his education in Duluth, and at the age of nineteen left the farm to
go to work for Morris & Company, meat packers. He was with that
concern three years, and for six months was an employe in the Beaver
Falls, Pennsylvania, branch house of Armour & Company. Then return-
ing to Minnesota he was connected with the Duluth Cigar Company
three years, and on March 21, 1909, engaged in the feed business at
114 East Michigan street. He has been in that one locality and in
the same business ever since, but the volume of his trade and busi-
ness has had a tremendous expansion. The Hintz-Cameron Company
handle the products of the Albert Dickinson Company in Duluth, and
distribute the products of various other mills and manufacturers.
Mr. Hintz is a member of the Commercial Club, the Elks Club, and
was reared a Lutheran. August 17, 1906, at Minneapolis, he married
Miss Marguerite Mostue, daughter of Louise Mostue, of Duluth. They
have one daughter, Elinor, born April 25, 1916.
966 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Benjamin M. Lippman. There are few men who have been more
closely associated and for a longer time with the commercial life of
the Mesaba Range than Benjamin M. Lippman, now a resident of
Hibbing.
Mr. Lippman is an American citizen of varied experience, and though
of foreign birth has been assimilated in every way with the life and
ideals of this nation. He was born in southern Russia June 5, 1876, a
son of M. E. and Zclda (Yesner) Lippman. His parents spent most of
their lives in Russia and his father grew up a farmer, later became an
importer and lived on the border line between his own country and Ger-
many, importing goods from Germany and selling in Russia. He had
been educated for a Rabbi and was a man of superior intelligence and
influence. He made several visits to the United States, and his death
occurred in Virginia, Minnesota, in 1916,- and his widow is still living in
that Minnesota town.
Benjamin M. Lippman is one of eight children, four of whom are
still living. His home was in Russia to the age of twenty. During that
time he devoted himself to his studies under the supervision of his tal-
ented father and other excellent instructors. As he grew toward man-
hood he carefully considered the future and his environment in central
Europe and determined that destiny otTered him the greater rewards in
another land. Accordingly in 1896 he came to the United States. He
reached here without capital, without a knowledge of language and
customs, and with such handicaps showed remarkable resourcefulness
in finding a way to start and at a time when the country was still slowly
recovering from the results of a panic. At Altoona, Pennsylvania, some
friends credited him with seventeen dollars and a half in trade, and he laid
in a stock of notions and started peddling. That was the real beginning of
his American career. In this way he went on until 1899. and in that year
came to the Mesaba Range in northern Minnesota. He was at Eveleth, but
about three months later established a store at McKinley, and in the mean-
time had assisted his brother Samuel to come to northern Minnesota, and
they were partners in the venture at McKinley. They soon opened another
store at Eveleth, Samuel being in charge of the McKinley stock, while
Benjamin went to Eveleth. Later Benjamin Lippman operated a store
at Cass Lake, Minnesota, for two and a half years. He and his brother
Samuel then established a business at Buhl, and for a time were propri-
etors of three stores, at McKinley, Buhl and Mount Iron. In the mean-
time they had induced another brother, Henry, to cross the ocean, and
it was Henry who was manager of the business at Mount Iron. This
enterprise rapidly grew and in 1905 Benjamin Lippman moved there
to give it his personal supervision. It was on the 14th of February of
that year, and after he had been in America for nine years, that Mr. Lipp-
man married Annie J. Margulis.
Early in 1906 the business of the brothers was divided and Benjamin
moved to Virginia, where he established a store and conducted it three
and a half years, until selling out. In 1909 he moved to Hibbing and
with Charles Hallock founded the Hibbing Department Store on Pine
street. Their partnership was dissolved in 1913, in which year Mr. Lipp-
man established his present department store. He is just completing a
fine brick building in the new town of South Hibbing. to which he will
remove when completed. This building is of brick 100 feet frontage,
125 feet deep and three stories in height, with 37,500 square feet of
floor space. It is strictly modern in every way and when completed
will be the finest department store in northeastern Minnesota. While
he was in Virginia Mr. Lippman established branch stores at Nashwauk
r
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 967
and Hibbing, subsequently selling both these enterprises, as well as
another store which he founded at Hibbing. He is now president of
the Minnesota Dry Goods Company of Virginia, and has one of the
largest and best-stocked department stores at Hibbing on the Mesaba
Range.
Mr. Lippman has for years regarded himself as an American and
all his actions are the best proof of his thorough Americanism. He
naturalized as a citizen as quickly as possible, and no native son is more
ready to support matters involving patriotism and public spirit. During
the World war he enrolled himself as a member of the local Home
Guards, and was honorably discharged when the war was over. On
one occasion during the war he put on a sale conducted by the public as
clerks, giving ten per cent of all the proceeds to the Red Cross. While
he has never aspired to office he was elected municipal judge while at
Buhl. Mr. and Mrs. Lippman have two children, Monroe L and
Blessing.
L. C. Coffin. The record of Mr. Coffin is that of a man who by
his own unaided efforts has worked his way from a modest beginning
to a position of affluence and, influence in the business world. His life
has been of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and
honorable methods which he has followed have won him the unbounded
confidence of his fellow citizens. L. C. Coffin is a Yankee by nativity,
having been born at Collis, Vermont, on the 27th of November, 1876,
and is the sixth in order of birth of the eight children born to Fessenden
and Sophronia (Lord) Coffin. Both of his parents were natives of
Vermont and both are now deceased, the father dying in 1887. He
was a farmer by vocation and stood high in the esteem of his fellow
citizens.
L. C. Coffin attended the public schools and then was a student in
the Vermont Methodist Seminary at Montpelier, Vermont. At the age
of seven years he had left home and worked on a farm until ten years
old, when he went to Barre, Vermont, and thereafter until twenty-four
years old was identified with the granite industry. In 1904 Mr. Coffin
came to Duluth, Minnesota, and engaged in the music business. Three
years later he founded the Boston Music House, which proved to be
a most successful enterprise and in 1912 the company was incorporated,
with the following stockholders and officers : L. C. Coffin, president and
treasurer; Al Bluett, vice president, and Gusta Rustafson, secretary.
They carry on a general music merchandising business, carrying a
full line of musical instruments, as well as a large stock of music of
every character. By their energetic efforts, sound business judgment and
courteous treatment of their customers this company has grown from a
modest beginning to one of the largest music houses in the northwest,
certainly the largest of its kind at the Head of the Lakes. They also
handle pianos and talking machines and phonographs, and fifteen sales
people are constantly engaged, the sales rooms and stock rooms occupy-
ing the four floors of their building at No. 1820 Lake avenue. North.
On January 1, 1914, Mr. Coffin was married to Mildred Francis, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Francis, of Lake Linden, Michigan,
and they have one child, Lional, born September 14, 1919. Mr. Coffin
also has a daughter, Velma, by a former marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Coffin
are members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, to which they give
generous support. Mr. Coffin is a member of the Commercial Qub,
the Rotary Club, the Retail Merchants Association, and fraternally is
a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is essen-
968 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
tially a man of affairs, of sound judgment, keen discernment, far-seeing
in what he undertakes, and his success in Hfe has been the legitimate
fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good judgment
and correct principles. Because of his success and excellent qualities
of character he enjoys a high standing throughout the community.
William C. Barrett, who has been a resident of Hibbing since the
fall of 1893, is now engaged in an undertaking business and has won
the gratitude of the people of this community for the dignified and
sympathetic service he renders in the time of greatest bereavement.
Mr. Barrett was born at Willsborough Point, Essex County, New York,
on Lake Champlain, August 15, 1857. His father, Peter Barrett, of
Canadian nativity, came to the United States when a child, and lived
in New York the remainder of his life, dying at Sandy Hill, New York.
He married Mary Gordon.
Growing up in his native state, William C. Barrett was given the
advantage of careful training by his watchful parents, and apprenticed
to learn the stone-cutting trade when old enough to do so under his
father, who was foreman in the Lake Champlain Blue Stone Quarry
for years. While he learned his trade, Mr. Barrett's opportunities for
acquiring an education were meagre. When he reached his majority he
came west and located at Norway, Michigan, and for some years was
on the Menominee Range, leaving it for the Gogebic Range, and from
there he went to Ely on the Vermillion Range of northern Minnesota.
At the latter place he was employed in. drilling for a couple of years.
His next venture was the operation of the Oliver House in partnership
with another man, and he subsequently lived for a short time at Mount
Iron, coming from the latter place to Hibbing in the fall of 1893.
When Mr. Barrett arrived at Hibbing the village was but a small
mining camp. Murphy Brothers kept the post office, and W. H. Day,
the Gearys, Dennis Haley, Doctor Rood were a few other of the early
settlers whom Mr. Barrett found at Hibbing. Pine street was the only
business thoroughfare, and the Sellers shaft was the only mining then
started, for the exploration of the Mahoning was just beginning. There
were no churches, but plenty of "blind pigs" were operated in sheds and
tents. Mr. Barrett operated a livery business and represented a brewery
during the first few months he was at Hibbing, but in 1894 embarked
in an undertaking business and has pursued it ever since. His first place
was at the corner of Second and North streets, but later he moved his
business directly opposite and there he remained until December, 1917,
when he secured his present premises.
On June 1, 1893, Mr. Barrett was united in marriage with Mary
Hurley, and they have had five children born to them, namely: Clinton,
Russell, Veronia, Wilfred and Donald. Both Clinton and Russell
answered their country's call during the great war. Clinton was in the
state militia prior to the entry of this country into the war, as a non-
commissioned officer of Company M, Third Minnesota National Guard,
and as such went to the Mexican border in 1916. His command became
the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Field Artillery, Battery B, during
the great war, and he went to Deniing, New Mexico, for training. He
was sent overseas in September, 1918, and was five hours' march from
the front when the armistice was signed. Russell was in the coast artil-
lery and received his training in California. In July, 1918, he was sent
overseas and was occupied driving ammunition trucks, and participated
in the Chateau Thiery offensive. He received his honorable discharge
after the signing of the armistice. Both young men returned home
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY . 969
safely after their period of military service and have resumed more
peaceful occupations. It is doubtful if these young men, or any otherS
who wore the uniform, will ever be unmindful of the needs of the coun-
try they risked their lives to preserve. What is worth fighting for is
worth working for, is certainly true.
Mr. Barrett and his family are members of the Roman Catholic
Church. He is a Republican and has served on the Township Board,
the School Board and the Village Council. The Elks, Red Men, Knights
of Columbus and Kiwanis Club all hold his membership. Having passed
through the pioneer period of Hibbing and participated in its remark-
able development, Mr. Barrett can appreciate the value of the present
conditions better than one of the later arrivals in the community. It
is a source of pride to him that he has borne his part in bringing about
such desirable changes, and he has great faith in the future of the
Mesaba Range and all of this part of the state, for he knows their
wonderful possibilities.
William Mitchell is an expert mechanic and has been employed
in technical occupations in the mining districts of northern Michigan and
northern Minnesota for the past thirty years. His service in late years
has been of a public nature, as superintendent of light and water at Ely.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Cornwall, England,^ January 31, 1871, son
of James and Mary (Tomkin) Mitchell. His father had the training
and experience of the mining district of Cornwall, and in 1879 brought
his family to America, first locating at Kingston, Ontario, and in the
following year moving to Quinnesec, Michigan, and in March, 1884,
was one of the skilled miners recruited by Captain E. J. Marcom for
pioneer mining work at Tower, Minnesota. He was employed in the
Soudan Mine, and died in August, 1886, at the age of forty-four. The
widowed mother survived until 1910, at the age of sixty-five. Of her
children John is a diamond drill expert in the Birmingham District of
Alabama. A daughter, Mrs. H. Grosnick, died in Michigan. Beatrice
is a trained nurse at Washington, D. C. Mrs. Mary Trudell lives at
Worcester, Massachusetts.
WiWiam Mitchell was about thirteen years of age when the family
moved to the Iron Ranges of Minnesota. He had in the meantime
attended school at Quinnesec, Michigan. His first regular employment
and technical training was acquired in the blacksmith shop of the Soudan
Mines. For about a year he did engine work in the Arcadian copper
district of Michigan, and in 1900 came to Ely, where he has been one
of the valued and esteemed citizens for twenty years. For three years
he was employed as timekeeper at the Pioneer Mine, and in 1903 became
engineer for the City Light and Water Plant, and since 1913 has effi-
ciently discharged his responsibilities as superintendent of this plant.
He is a man who knows his business and is exceedingly loyal to his
duties.
Mrs. Isabel Mitchell, his wife, was born at Hammerstburg, Canada,
and was a teacher in the public schools of Ely until her marriage in
1910. They have a living daughter, Margaret, and another daughter,
Frances, died at the age of three. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are active
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Mitchell being superin-
tendent of the Sunday School and treasurer of the Church Society.
Politically he is a Republican.
Leif Jenssen, a highly qualified architect who has practiced his
profession in Duluth some ten years, is a member of the firm German
970 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
& Jenssen, whose professional work is exemplified in many of the out-
standing public structures of Duluth and vicinity.
Mr. Jenssen was born in Norway February 16, 1879. He was liberally
educated in his native country and graduated from the Norwegian Poly-
technic Institute. He came to America alone in 1901 and for a time
was employed as a draftsman in New York city. In 1903 he removed
to Chicago and was similarly engaged there until he came to Duluth
in 1909. During the following four years he was in the offices of the
architectural firm German & Lignell. When that firm was dissolved in
1913 Mr. Jenssen became associated with Mr. German under the firm
name of German & Jenssen, architects, whose offices are in the Exchange
Building.
During the past five or six years they have had a large share of the
architectural work of the city and have drawn plans and supervised con-
struction for many prominent residences and business and public build-
ings. Some of the public structures for which they have been architects
are the Washington Manual Training School, Superior High School, the
Lincoln School, the Young Men's Christian Association and Young
Women's Christian Association Buildings and many beautiful residences.
Mr. Jenssen is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and
belongs to the Duluth Engineers' Club and the Architects' Association
of Manitoba. In 1907 -he married Miss Larsen, whose people also came
from Norway. They are the parents of three children.
F. Labovitz. Considering the small amount of capital he possessed,
and the difficulties involved in the acquisition of a new language and
new customs and conditions, F. Labovitz has earned his remarkable suc-
cess during twenty years of American residence. He is proprietor of
one of the most successful department stores in Duluth, known as The
Fair.
Mr. Labovitz was born in Roumania August 26, 1874. He was
reared and acquired some commercial experience in his native land, where
he married. With his wife he came to America in 1900, and soon estab-
lished a home in Minneapolis, where for seven years he was in the retail
fruit business. At that time he made much progress in American ways
and customs and amassed a small capital, with which he came to Duluth
in 1907 and opened a stock of merchandise at 516>1' West Superior
street. Gradually his business expanded and grew, and after eight years
he moved to a larger building at 221-223 West First street and then
opened the department store known as The Fair. This business has
grown and developed, and its thousands of customers appreciate the
service rendered as a store of large and well selected stock of economical
wares. The business is now one involving an aggregate sales of about
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually. Mr. Labovitz has
always depended upon fair dealing to win his customers, and is head of
a business that requires a large clerical force.
He and his wife have three children, Maurice, born in 1900; Roslind,
born in 1902; and Israel M.. born in 1907.
Victor L. Power is undoubtedly one of the best known men in
St. Louis County. He has achieved distinctive success in the law, but
the associations of his name outside of his home town of Hibbing are
largely due to the aggressive fight he has made from time to time in
carrying out and perfecting a public policy for the benefit and improve-
ment of Hibbing while he has been president of the village.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 971
Mr. Power was born at Calumet, Michigan,' April 29, 1881, son of
John and Elizabeth (Corgan) Power. His father, the late John Power, '
who died at Chicago May 20, 1920, was for many years a distinguished
lawyer of northern Michigan. A son of Matthew and Bridget (Veale)
Power, the former born in 1802, John Power was born at Waterford,
Ireland, July 13, 1846, and was reared in a home of culture and had
good advantages during his youth. About 1861 he ran away from home
and came to America, and in 1863, by special orders, enlisted as a drum-
mer boy in the Union army in Company A of the Seventeenth New York
Infantry. He was with Sherman's Army on the March to the Sea, and
was twice wounded and served until mustered out June 19, 1865. After
the war he entered the regular army for frontier duty in the Thirty-sixth
Michigan Infantry, with headquarters at Fort Wilkins in the copper
country of northern Michigan. Incidentally he was also made lighthouse
keeper there, studied law, and was elected and served as county school
superintendent. He was admitted to the bar in 1872, and began practice
at Red Jacket, Michigan, where he enjoyed a rising position at the bar
for twelve years, but in 1881 removed to Escanaba, where he continued
his professional work imtil a short time before his death. He was five
times nominated by the Democratic party for Congress, served as village
and city attorney of Calumet and Escanaba for fifteen years, was county
prosecuting attorney, and in 1894 was appointed and for more than
four years filled the office of Federal district attorney for the western
district of Michigan. For ten years he was a member and president of
the Board of Education of Escanaba, also served as county superintend-
ent of schools of Delta County, and, in the words of a committee of the
Delta County Bar, was "considered one of the leading lawyers of Michi-
gan and was recognized as a versatile trial lawyer and as a successful
and well fortified counsellor. He was prominently concerned in many
important litigations in the State and Federal Courts. He was a man of
great natural ability and was a close student of the law. He was a man
of high ideals and generous impulse. He was ever ready to do his duty
as a public and private citizen. He was a man with many friends and
the possessor of a generous and charitable nature. His natural ability
and his extraordinary diligence as a lawyer were rewarded with such suc-
cess as was possible to achieve. His eloquence as an advocate before the
bar soon attracted attention throughout Michigan and Wisconsin." While
he was performing the duties of lighthouse keeper at Upper Harbor in
1868 he married Miss Elizabeth Corgan, a native of Montreal, Canada.
She died in 1914, the mother of eight children.
Victor L. Power, who was born at Calumet, Michigan, April 29, 1881,
was two years old when his parents established their home in Escanaba,
and later he was sent to Chicago to finish his education. He graduated
from the Irving High School at the age of eighteen and then took special
work in Latin, science and trigonometry in Lewis Institute. Returning
to Michigan, he began his serious career as a checker on the ore docks
at Escanaba, and for a time operated the Clifton Hotel at Marquette.
Mr. Power visited Hibbing in the home of his brother in December, 1899,
and that brief acquaintance gave him such a liking for that district and
its people that he determined to make it his future home. Remaining
here, he was employed as bookkeeper in a store, then as helper on the
diamond drill in and around the village of Chisholm, and he also worked
as a blacksmith's helper for the American Steel & Wire Company in the
Chisholm Mine, which was the only industry on the site of what is now
a flourishing town. The son of a successful lawyer, Mr. Power did not
972 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
definitely determine to follow his father's profession until he had had a
wide variety of commercial and industrial experience. He studied law
in Chicago, in the Kent College of Law, and after passing the bar exami-
nation was admitted on June 4, 1903, and at once returned to Hibbing
and continued his professional education in the University of Minnesota.
He took the bar examination in Minnesota in January, 1904, and for the
past sixteen years has been actively engaged in his profession at Hibbing
and has achieved a high rank as a lawyer.
Of Mr. Power's constructive work in behalf of the Hibbing municipal-
ity only brief reference need be made here. In 1913, during his absence
from the city, he was elected to head a progressive ticket in a campaign
based on a platform for bettering local municipal conditions, particularly
designed to give the village a better lighting system, water power and
other improvements. He was elected village president at the ensuing
election, and while the situation and issues have changed in succeeding
years, he has been elected and re-elected at every succeeding election and
properly deserves much of the credit for the great program of better-
ment that has been carried out in recent years.
Mr. Power is a Republican in politics and has served as delegate to
a number of county and state conventions. He is a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1910 he married Miss
Percy Garner, a native of Manistique, Michigan. She was educated in
the public schools of Manistique and Chicago, and was active in the social
circles of Hibbing. Her death occurred May 15, 1921.
H. C. Meining. Specific mention is made of many of the worthy
citizens of St. Louis County within the pages of this work, citizens who
have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and
whose interests have been identified with its every phase of progress,
each contributing in his sphere of action to the well-being of the com-
munity in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and
legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name appears above,
peculiar interest attaching to his career from the fact that practically
his entire life has been spent in this immediate locality.
H. C. Meining was born in the city now honored by his citizenship on
the 9th day of August, 1878, and is the youngest of the nine children born
to his parents, seven of whom are still living. The father, Louis \\'.
Meining, whose death occurred in 1897, was a native of Germany, who
came to the United States in the '50s. His first location was in New
York, but shortly afterward he went to Canada, where he engaged in
farming for a time. In 1860 he returned to the United States, locating
in Duluth and engaged in the contracting business. Afterward he went
to the Calumet copper region in northern Michigan, where for seven
years he was employed as foreman of mines. At the end of that time
he returned to Duluth and again engaged in general contracting, which
business he followed until his retirement, several years later.
H. C. Meining received his elementary education in the public schools
of Duluth, after which he entered the University of Michigan, where he
was graduated with the class of 1896. Immediately afterward he enlisted
for the Spanish-American war in Company G, Fourteenth Regiment. Min-
nesota Volunteer Infantry, which was stationed at Chattanooga, where
they remained until November of that same year, when they returned
home. Mr. Meining entered the service as a private, but was discharged
with the rank of a second lieutenant. Upon his return to Duluth he
became a clerk in the office of the Duluth, Mesaba & Northern Railroad
Company, but a year later entered the employ of the Great Northern
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 973
Railroad Company as a stenographer, remaining there about a year". He
then became secretary to President Hill of the Great Northern Railroad,
serving in that capacity for five years. He next went to Sleepy Eye,
Minnesota, and engaged in the flour-mill business, personally superin-
tending the sales department over the entire United States. In 1906
Mr. Meining assumed the operation of the United Flour Mill in Minne-
apolis, remaining there until 1916, when he again returned to Duluth
and engaged in the brokerage business, under the name of the H. C. Mein-
ing Company, with offices in the Fidelity Building. He deals in grain,
fl.our, feed and hay, and is enjoying a large and constantly increasing
business.
Politically Mr. Meining gives his support to the Republican party,
while his religious faith is that of the Congregational Church. Though
a busy man, and energetic in the advancement of his own affairs, he still
finds time to contribute of his time to those things which tend to advance
the material, civic and moral welfare of the community. Because of these
things and his excellent personal qualities of character he has won and
retains the respect and confidence of all who know him.
M. Bliss Robinson. Well known in the commercial life of Duluth,
M. Bliss Robinson has been in the brokerage business for a number of
years and is now vice president of Robinson-Macaulay Company, grain
and stock brokers, with offices in the Lonsdale Building.
Mr. Robinson was born May 15, 1879, at Wolf Creek, Wisconsin. His
father, the late John Robinson, who died at West Superior, Wisconsin, in
1910, was a pioneer of the Duluth district and widely known all over
this section. He was born in the state of Maine, moved out to Wiscon-
sin in early life, and for a time was connected with a party of Govern-
ment surveyors running lines at Duluth and Superior. In 1889 he engaged
in the hotel business at Duluth and afterward moved to Superior. By
his second marriage he was the father of two sons and one daughter,
M. Bliss being the second in age.
M. Bliss Robinson acquired a common school education at Duluth and
Superior, and at the age of sixteen went to work as a messenger boy
with a telegraph company. Subsequently he learned telegraphy and has
always been more or less identified with that occupation. After five
years as a telegraph operator he began handling a brokerage business at
Duluth, and subsequently organized the Robinson-Macaulay Company.
This company furnishes a local service quoting all the principal transac-
tions of the New York Board of Trade every day.
Mr. Robinson is affiliated with the Elks. On September 1, 1909, he
married Miss Lillian Klinkert.
Claude M. Atkinson. Probably in no other field than journalism
could the original abilities of Claude M. Atkinson discover their proper
sphere and be afforded the proper medium for expression. Mr. Atkinson
as a newspaper man and printer has shared in the instability of members
of his profession, but the fact that for over twenty years he has been
identified with the village of Hibbing and all that time as publisher and
editor of the Hibbing Daily News and The Mesaba Ore is sufficient evi-
dence that he also exemplifies permanent qualifications of citizenship.
Claude M. Atkinson was born at Appleton, Wisconsin, November 4,
1862, son of James Fremont and Anna Frances (Waterbury) Atkinson.
His grandfather, Rev. Edwin Atkinson, was an old-time Methodist circuit
rider. He was born in England, was ordained a minister of the Metho-
dist church in that country and after his marriage came to Canada in
974 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
1836, and when Wisconsin was still a territory and the domain of the
wild Indian he moved there and for a time lived in Dodge County and
later in Outagamie County. James Fremont Atkinson also exemplified
many of the rugged (jiuilities of the family. He was a man of very
diversified talents. As a youth he learned and took up the trade of cabi-
net maker. He was in California during the early days of gold discovery.
Afterward he studied law, operated a store, traded with the Chippewa
Indians in Wisconsin, dealt in real estate and became owner of con-
siderable possessions. It may be that he caught the contagion from his
youthful son, then an apprentice printer, but at any rate in 1877 he
bought the Escanaba Tribune, changing its name to the Escanaba Iron
I'ort, and conducted it for several years. Through the columns of that
j)aper he exemplified his pronounced literary attainments. He also served
as municipal judge at Escanaba, and at the time of his death in 1885 was
probate judge of Florence County.
One of three children and the only survivor, Claude M. Atkinson
gained his education largely in a printing office, said to be one of the
greatest universities in existence. Every boy has at some time felt the
fascination of printing, but Claude M. Atkinson acknowledged the fasci-
nation as the dominant fact in his life and career and his individual
destiny has been molded largely in a composing or editorial room. Before
he was twelve years of age and before his father had bought the Escanaba
Tribune he was rendering what service he could to its owners and picking
up a knowledge of printing. Though he was doubtless worth something
to the owners, he was paid nothing the first six months and the second
six months his salary was only fifty cents a week. That did not dis-
courage him, and while at Escanaba he mastered the art of printing and
filled every position in the mechanical offices of the Tribune. In 1879 he
went to Quinnesec, while that was the center of a wild and adventurous
community, and was employed as a typesetter. Subsequently he clerked
in a store at Norway, and also at Quinnesec and at Florence he assisted
his father in several enterprises, including the founding of the Florence
Mining News.
The people of northern Minnesota have long admired the vigorous,
terse and original way in which Mr. Atkinson expresses himself in the
editorial and news columns of his paper. It may be said that he first
achieved this art of expression while on the Florence Mining News,
though writing was only an incident of his service in the mechanical
offices. After his father's death he became editor of the News, and
subsequently sold it to the distinguished former governor and author.
Chase S. Osborn, who is one of many distinguished men it has been the
privilege of Mr. Atkinson to know in the course of his life.
Like all printers, Mr. Atkinson had the wanderlust and his travels
and work as a journeyman printer led him far and near. Eventually he
returned to Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he worked as printer and
local editor of a paper. Then for about three years he assisted
Mr. Osborn on the Florence Mining News. At Crystal Falls, Michigan,
he founded the Diamond Drill, a newspaper still in existence, though he
sold it after a brief ownership, and was next engaged on some newspapers
in Salt Lake City ; then bought and conducted the Independent at Rock
Springs, W^yoming, for two years, and in August. 1897, came to the iron
ranges of northern Minnesota and for one year was a general utility
man on the Virginia ; then founded the Republican at Eveleth, selling
out after about a year, and in May, 1899, bought the Hibbing News,
which had been established at Hibbing in the spring of 1894, almost at
the beginning of the existence of Hibbing. In 1901, on accovmt of some
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 975
litigation over the title, Mr. Atkinson changed the name to The Mesaba
Ore and Hibbing News, and now conducts both a daily and weekly edi-
tion, known as the Hibbing Daily News and the Mesaba Ore. The Daily
News was established in February, 1920, and is the only morning daily on
the Range.
Mr. Atkinson was originally a Republican, but changed his party soon
after coming to St. Louis County because he could not conscientiously
endorse the actions of local party leaders. Since then he has acted and
voted independently, and has conducted his paper accordingly. When
the conflict on the tax levy and expenditures in Hibbing came about he
espoused the cause of the people. It is his nature never to be a half-way
man, and he is ill fitted for compromise. As a result of his stand and the
stand of the paper in this matter he was indicted presumably because of
the fight he had been making, but was wholly exonerated. Mr. Atkinson
was appointed postmaster of Hibbing in 1906 and was also one of the
first members of the local Library Board.
While for many years he has carried the responsibilities of a news-
paper. editor and publisher and has always been ready either for a fight
or a frolic among his fellowmen and in community affairs, his real heart
may be said to be in the open fields and there is no more enthusiastic
hunter or fisherman in northern Minnesota than C. M. Atkinson. As a
sportsman he has killed silver tip bear, deer, moose, antelope, elk, blacktail
deer, black bear, mountain sheep, mountain lion, and is never happier
than with a gun over his shoulder or in company with his children on
hunting trips. He is a real nature lover and hears and responds to the
summons of running streams and rustling woods, and thus is deeply
religious though a member of no Christian sect.
November 24, 1883, Mr. Atkinson married Ida M. Lott, of Iron River,
Michigan. Of the five children born to their marriage the oldest,
Claudius, is now deceased. The oldest living son is Marc, now general
business manager of the Hibbing Daily News and the Mesaba Ore, with
Miss Beatrice Atkinson as society editress and general news reporter.
The two younger children are Dorothy and William.
KoHRT Brothers. The commercial and civic life of Hibbing has been
deeply impressed by the work and personal character of the Khort broth-
ers almost from the beginning of the village's prosperity and progress.
In even older communities than Hibbing it is unusual to find so many
brothers of one family whose work and associations have remained con-
tinuously identified with the community over a long period of years.
The names of the brothers who have lived on the Mesaba Range are
Herman A., now deceased. Christian Frederick, Richard W., Gustav
Augustus, George, William and Ernest. All were born, reared and
acquired their early schooling at Elk River in Anoka County, Minnesota.
Their father, Christian Frederick Kohrt, was born in Germany, was
reared and liberally educated in his native country, served in the war
against Austria and later in the Franco-Prussian war. He decided that
his best interests could be conserved and advanced in a land not domi-
nated by imperialism and military rule. Soon after his release from army
service following the Franco-Prussian war he came to the United States,
was married at Watertown. Wisconsin, and about 1872 moved to Anoka
County, Minnesota. As soon as possible he naturalized and in Minnesota
took up a homestead and went through all the trials and vicissitudes of
pioneer life. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and edu-
cation and easily attained and maintained a position of leadership among
the early settlers. For years he served as a member of the School Board,
976 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
and his influence was felt in helping other children as well as his own
to better their education. He was also township supervisor and an inde-
fatigable worker in road improvement. In religion he and his family
were Lutherans. He and his good wife lived out their lives in Anoka
County and exemplified in the fullest degree the sturdy, loyal and credit-
able virtues that are the best assets of American citizenship.
The first of the Kohrt brothers to come to the Mesaba Range was
Herman A., who reached Hibbing in the spring of 1900. He was first
employed as clerk in a meat market, and in the fall of that year Christian
Frederick Kohrt, named for his father, joined him here and the two
brothers in 1902 utilized their capital and experience to establish a meat
business of their own. From time to time all of the brothers eventually
came to live in Hibbing. Herman A. married and became the father of
a daughter, and is the only one of the brothers deceased.
No one questioned the loyalty of the Kohrts, although they were of
German parentage, when America entered the war against Germany. Two
of the brothers, Gustav and George, volunteered their services and
received a lieutenant's commission. Gustav was on the Mexican border as
a member of old Company M, and later went to France and was on duty
until the armistice was signed. Lieutenant George was retained in this
country as an instructor at Camp Pike, Arkansas.
Christian Frederick Kohrt has been continuously a merchant at Hib-
bing for twenty years, and his business record has exemplified the quali-
ties of industry, honesty, good citizenship and careful attention to details
that seem generally characteristic of the entire Kohrt family. He married
Mary Florence Keene, and they have five children, named Charles, Esther,
Marquitta, Veronica and Kenneth.
George L. Brozich. A study of the prominent men and activities of
the town of Ely does not proceed far until it encounters the name and
influence of George L. Brozich, who is a successful banker, real estate
operator, former president of the Commercial Club, and a loyal and
interested worker in every phase of his community's progress and
advancement.
Mr. Brozich was born at Schwenberg, Austria, March 12, 1878, son
of George and Katharine Brozich. His father came to America in 1883,
Avas first identified as a worker with the copper country of Calumet,
Michigan, and in 1890 moved to the Iron Range in Minnesota, being
successively a citizen of Ely, Biwabik and Virginia, and finally home-
steaded land in Koochiching County, Minnesota, where he lived out his
years and where he died in 1919, at the age of seventy-two. George
Brozich, Sr., was appreciative of his opportunities as an American citizen,
became naturalized as soon as possible, and was a man of quiet industry
who earned esteem wherever he lived. He was a carpenter by trade, and
followed that line of work all over the Iron Range, constructing some
of the first houses at Biwabik and Virginia. His widow is still living at
the home of her son George L., who is her oldest child. Her second son,
John Carl Brozich, is superintendent of the Miller Mine at Aurora,
Minnesota, and the daughter, Marie E., is the wife of Jacob Jackshe, of
Aurora.
George L. Brozich was ten years of age when he and his mother came
to the United States to join his father. He had attended school in
Austria and after coming to this country was in school at Calumet,
Biwabik and Virginia. After completing his education he found an open-
ing as an employe of the First National Bank at Virginia. A brief expe-
rience gave him an ambition to become a banker, and in order to fit
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 977
himself for the profession as a life work he resigned and took a com-
mercial law and banking course at St. John's College in CoUegeville,
Minnesota, where he spent two years. On leaving college instead of
returning to banking he became interested in merchandising, and for a
year and a half was connected with a mercantile establishment at Colo-
rado City, Colorado, and was then manager of a department store at
Joliet, Illinois, for three years.
Mr. Brozich returned to Minnesota in 1902, and since that year has
been an active citizen of Ely. He was assistant cashier of the Bank of
Ely until it was consolidated with the Exchange Bank. For five years
his time and enterprise were devoted to the real estate and insurance
business, and he is now president of the Vermillion Realty Company,
which has been reorganized under the title of Superior National Outing
Company. Mr. Brozich had an active part in organizing the First State
Bank of Ely, and as its cashier has been instrumental in making it one
of the leading banks of northern Minnesota.
It was Mr. Brozich who in 1913 was chiefly responsible for the organi-
zation of the Commercial Club at Ely. Also through his efforts this club
became officially a part of the city organization, and a portion of local
taxation is devoted to its maintenance and functions. In and through
this club have been directed the civic energies which have done most for
Ely within recent years. Mr. Brozich was for four years honored with
the office of president of this club. He served two years as a member of
the City Council and two years as mayor, and in many other ways has
been active in public affairs. He was president of the St. Louis County
Club. Mr. Brozich is affiliated with the Rotarians, Foresters and Elks,
and he and his family are Catholics.
In 1908 he married Anna M. Horwat, of Joliet, Illinois. Their three
children are Robert J., William G. and Genevieve Mary.
Abe Feldman. One of the best known of the younger attorneys of
St. Louis County, Minnesota, is Abe Feldman, of Duluth. His life has
been one of hard stud}' and research from his youth and since maturity
of laborious professional dvity, and the high position which he has
attained in his profession is evidence that the qualities which he possesses
afford the means of distinction under a system of government in which
places of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be worthy of
them.
Abe Feldman was born in Russian Poland on the 1st day of July,
1890, and is the eldest of the seven children born to Morris and Sarah
Feldman. His father was the first of the family to come to the United
States, and from 1892 to 1896 he was engaged in a mercantile business
at Ironwood, Michigan, from which place he moved to Eveleth, Minne-
sota, where he still resides. In 1896 the mother brought her children to
this country and joined the father at Eveleth, where he is still engaged
in the mercantile business. Abe Feldman received his elementary educa-
tion in the public schools of Eveleth, and then entered the University of
Michigan, which he attended four years, having one year of academic
study and three years in the department of law, where he was graduated
in 1911, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Immediately thereafter
Mr. Feldman entered upon the practice of his profession at Chicago,
Illinois, but soon afterward returned to Eveleth and became associated in
the practice of law with James P. Boyle, a partnership which was con-
tinued until 1914. From August 1, 1914, to January 1, 1915, Mr. Feld-
man served as city attorney of Eveleth. In January, 1915, he came to
Duluth and has been engaged in the practice of his profession continu-
978 DULUT.H AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
ously since that time. By a straightforward, honorable course he has
built up a large and lucrative legal business, his life affording a splendid
example of what a youth, plentifully endowed with good common sense,
energy and determination, may accomplish in America when directed and
controlled by earnest moral principles.
On August 9, 1916, Mr. Feldman was married to Esther Rabinowitz,
the daughter of Frank and Rose Rabinowitz, of Eveleth, Minnesota.
Mrs. Feldman attended the public schools of Eveleth and later graduated
from the Saint Cloud Normal School, after which for several years she
taught school at Eveleth. To Mr. and Mrs. Feldman have been born
three children, Arthur Harold, Shirley Jean and Carolyn.
W. P. Lardner. In all that constitutes true manhood and good citi-
zenship W. P. Lardner, one of the best known of Duluth's business men,
is a notable example and none stands higher than he in the esteem and
confidence of the community honored by his citizenship. His career has
been characterized by duty faithfully done and by industry, thrift and
wisely directed efforts he has acquired a liberal share of this world's
goods. He is a man of good judgment and pronounced views, and takes
an intelligent interest in all public affairs, especially as pertaining to his
own community, in the growth and development of which he has been
an active factor.
W. P. Lardner was born January 24, 1867, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
is the eldest of the six children now living who blessed the union of his
parents, three others being deceased. His father, Henry Lardner, who
died at Niles, Michigan, in 1914, was interested in extensive business
affairs for many years, his interests running largely to banking and real
estate. In 1887 he was a partner in the Paine & Lardner Bank in Duluth,
as he was also in its successor, the Security Bank of Duluth. which was
organized in 1889, with a capital stock of $100,000, and of which institu-
tion he was a director. This bank was successfully operated until 1896.
W. P. Lardner received his educational training in the public schools
of Niles. Michigan, and on completing his studies he became connected
with the banking business in that city, starting as a messenger and after-
ward becoming paying teller, which position he held until 1887. He then
came to Duluth and became a partner in the banking firm of Paine &
Lardner, of which he acted as cashier, and also held the same official
position in the Security Bank of Duluth. He then withdrew from the
banking business and turned his attention to life insurance in 1897, con-
tinuing successfully engaged in this business until 1901. when he became
an operator in mineral lands, to which he has devoted himself continu-
ously since. He is also heavily interested in Oklahoma oil lands. He
has handled enormous quantities of these lands, and has been more than
ordinarily successful in his business affairs.
In November, 1887, Mr. Lardner was married in Duluth to Ruhamah
Finley, a daughter of Thomas, Jr.. and Lucy Griffin Finley, of Niles.
Michigan. Her grandparents came respectively from New York and
Maryland originally. Mr. and Mrs. Lardner have no living children.
They are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church and Mr. Lardner
is a member of the American Lafayette League. A man .of honest
motives and generous impulses, he has won and retains a host of warm
and loyal friends. While he has prosecuted a special line of business
on his own account, he also belongs to that class of representative citizens
who promote the public welfare while advancing individual success, and
he possesses to a marked degree those sterling qualities which command
uniform confidence and regard.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS 'COUNTY 979
Frank H. Cohoe. Until the present century life presented its oppor-
tunities to Frank H. Cohoe largely in the field of agriculture in his native
province of Ontario. Soon afterward he came to the Range country of
northern Minnesota, and from one responsibility to another has identified
himself with the active operations of iron ore mining, and for several
years past has been general superintendent of the Hibbing-Chisholm
District for the Hanna Ore Mining Company.
Mr. Cohoe was born in Oxford County, Ontario, May 4, 1869, one
of the five living children of Justus and Marion (Farrington) Cohoe.
His father was born in Canada, but his mother was a native of the state
of New York. Growing up on a farm and acquiring a public school
education, Frank H. Cohoe had the sound environment and training of
a country boy, and at the age of twenty-one began his individual career
as a farmer. In March, 1902, he came to the iron ranges of northern
Minnesota and was first employed for a brief time by the Oliver Iron
Mining Company at Hibbing as a sampler of iron ore and also in the
billing of cars. He was next engaged in looking after supplies and doing
clerical work until December, 1903. He sought every opportunity to
improve his knowledge of iron ore, and in December, 1903, came his first
important promotion when he was made surface foreman in the Hull-
Rust Mine of the Oliver Iron Mining Company. In June, 1905, he was
promoted to night foreman of stripping operations in that mine. A year
later he became general foreman in the stripping of the Sellers Mine, and
continued so until November 1, 1912. He was then sent with a picked
crew to strip the Graham Mine at Old Mesaba, a work that continued
during the winter of 1912-13. In April, 1913, he returned to the Burk-
Sellers Mines as general foreman, and in February, 1914. was assigned
work in stripping the Kerf Mine. In August. 1914, he went with the
Arthur Iron Mining Company as superintendent of the Leonard and
Dunwoody Mines. The Arthur Mining Company leased its operating
facilities to the Hanna Ore Mining Company, and Mr. Cohoe worked
with the latter organization as general superintendent, and in that capac-
ity has been retained.
He is a well-known man in the mining circles of the Hibbing District.
He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Algonquin and Kiwanis
Clubs, and was reared in the Quaker church but is not a member of any
religious denomination. At the age of twenty-one he married Miss Elsie
Kelly, of Oxford County, Ontario. They have two children, Awrey W.
and Welby C. Welby was trained in the Aviation Department of the
American Armies, and for the greater part of his service was stationed
at Montrose, Scotland, and completed his training about ten days before
the signing of the armistice.
J. R. Patterson has been one of the energetic business men of the
Head of the Lakes district for the past fifteen years, and is now manager
of the well-known commission house of Paine, Webber & Company.
On coming to Duluth in 1905 he took charge of the contracting depart-
ment of the Duluth & Mesaba Railway. That was his work for four
years, and then after other experiences he became cashier on December
31, 1915. of Paine, .Webber & Company, grain and bond brokers, and
since 1919 has been manager of that firm.
David Reid Black. A successful business is one that performs an
essential service and has a gratifying growth in volume and patronage
from year to year. Measured by such a standard one of the high class
firms of Duluth is the D. R. Black Company, plumbing and heating, an
Vol. Ill — 4
980 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
old established industry. This corporation has been in existence for six-
teen years. Its founder and active head, David Reid Black, has been
identified with his trade and business in this city for over thirty years.
Along with his proficiency and thoroughness in the mechanical detail
of his trade Mr. Black possessed those qualities of the business executive
that enabled him to control and direct an establishment of his own, and
his efficiency is partly due to the fact that he has been depending upon
himself since boyhood. He was born in Scotland. His father, Allan
W. Black, brought his family to America in 1883, coming with six
children. For one year he lived at Milwaukee, then removed to St. Paul,
Minnesota.
David R. Black, fifth among the children, was fourteen years old
when he came to America, and about two years later began doing for
himself. He had a common school education, and he served his appren-
ticeship in the plumbing and heating business at St. Paul. About thirty-
one years ago he came to Duluth, and w^hile he is a citizen of varied social
and civic relationships, his fundamental work from the beginning has
been in the plumbing and heating line. He was manager for Allan Black,
a brother, who had four places of business, one at Grand Forks, one at
Minneapolis, one at St. Paul and one in Duluth. David R. Black man-
aged the Duluth business branch for a time and then took it over, and
it has since been under his individual direction. The D. R. Black Com-
pany was incorporated in 1904 and has handled many large contracts
as well as a great volume of general business in heating, plumbing and
ventilating. The company is located in its own building at 314 West
First street in Duluth.
Mr. Black is a member of the State Society of Sanitary and Heating
Engineers. He is a director and for many years a member of the Duluth
Builders Exchange. He is also a member of the Heating and Piping
Contractors' National Association. Largely through the weight of his
individual experience and business character he has given his company
a prestige and responsibility all over northern Minnesota.
Mr. Black is a member of the Commercial Club, a member of the
Longview Tennis Club, an associate member of Duluth Council Boy
Scouts of America, is a life member of the Elks and a member of all the
Masonic bodies including the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Duluth
Boat Club and the Kiwanis Club. He was born and reared a Presby-
terian, and in politics is a Republican.
In 1899, at Duluth, Mr. Black married Miss Flora J. Louden, only
daughter of Robert Louden, a lumberman and old settler of Duluth, now
living in Portland, Oregon. To their marriage were born four children,
all of whom are being given every encouragement and advantage in the
way of school and college education for useful careers. The children are :
David L., a student in the University of Virginia at Charlottesville ; Allan
W., a student in the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington ; Newton R.,
who attends the Augusta Military Academy at Fort Defiance, Virginia ;
and Genevieve, only daughter, a student in the Duluth High School.
Capt. Elisha Morcom. A great deal of the history of ore mining in
northern Minnesota might be written from the experiences of the Mor-
com family. The late Capt. Elisha Morcom had the distinction of
opening the first iron mine in Minnesota. That was over thirty-seven
years ago, and he and other members of' the family have figured promi-
nently in the districts around Tower ever since.
Elisha Morcom was born in the Parish of Kenwyn, Cornwall, England,
May 5, 1835, being son of a mining captain in Cornwall. When he w^as
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 981
only fifteen years of age he voluntarily left school to go to work in a
coal mine in Cornwall. While he had a limited amount of schooling, he
never regarded his education as finished, and was a student and close
observer of men and affairs all his life. He had the faculty of executive
direction, and his abilities as a manager were as valuable as his technical
skill in mining operations. • Four years after going to work in a coal
mine he came to the United States, in 1854, in company with an uncle,
William Grose. He landed at Philadelphia, and from there went on to
the copper mines of Keweenau County, Michigan, and after two years
removed to Ontonagon County in the same state. He was given the
responsibility of mining captain at Rockland, Michigan, in 1863. From
1865 to 1870 he was mine agent for the Norwich Mine, and then for two
years mine captain at the Nonesuch Mine at Nonesuch. In 1878 he
was given charge of the underground work at Ouinnesec on the Menomi-
nee Range, with the rank of captain with the Menominee Mining Com-
pany, finally becoming superintendent.
It was in 1884 that Captain' Morcom was chosen as superintendent for
the Minnesota Mining Company and ordered to make preparations for
the opening of the ore mines at Tower. His first work was to arrange
for building homes for the miners. The first mines of the Range were
opened under his direct supervision and the workers he imported largely
from his wide acquaintance in the mining districts of Michigan. They
came by way of Superior across the ice to Duluth, and thence were con-
veyed overland to Tower, which was then without railroad facilities.
For several years after 1889 Captain Morcom also operated a brick
plant at Soudan. His services as a mining expert were in great demand.
S. P. Ely sent him on several occasions to open iron mines on the Island
of Cuba. He also opened the mines at McKinley on the Mesaba Range
and did nmch of a similar work in Michigan. He also explored the mines
on the Mesaba Range at Coleraine. Many prominent mining officials in
Michigan and Minnesota, some of those who hold responsible positions
on the Range today, acquired their early training from the late Captain
Morcom.
An important record of public service could also be compiled to his
credit. While in Michigan he held such offices as state legislator and
county supervisor, and at Tower was for many years a member of the
School Board and mayor, had charge of the Minnesota state mining dis-
play at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893, for many years was a mem-
ber of the Board of County Commissioners of St. Louis County and
chairman of the board. He was a master of Quinnesec Lodge of Masons,
and was affiliated with the Knight Templar Commandery and the Shrine.
In politics he was a Republican, and was a liberal contributor to the
support of all churches.
Captain Morcom, who died at Tower November 21, 1908, married at
Rockland. Michigan, in October, 1858, Elizabeth Ann Wicks. They had
journeyed side by side as husband and wife for just half a century.
Mrs. Morcom, who is still living, was born in Cornwall, England, Septem-
ber 16, 1842, and. was brought to America by her father, John Wicks, a
mining captain who settled in Michigan. Captain and Mrs. Morcom had
three daughters and two sons. Two of the daughters, Carrie and Har-
riet, are now living with their mother at Tower and were in charge of
the postoffice at Tower for twenty-four years. The other daughter,
Alvina, is the wife of Rev. Edward Bull, of Keithburg, Illinois. The
two sons are Elisha, J., Jr., and Harry W., the latter a successful physi-
cian at Duluth.
982 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Elisha J. Morcom, Jr., was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan,
September 30, 1865. He never attended school after he was thirteen, but,
like his father, has been a student all his days. At thirteen he went to
work in machine shops and as a young man was employed as a machinist
with the Marinette Iron Works at Duluth. Mr. Morcom arrived on the
Minnesota Iron Range on St. Patrick's Day, 1884. Of old-timers on the
Range at that date some eight or ten still remain, including Mr. Morcom,
and these pioneers managed to celebrate a little reunion nearly every
year. Mr. Morcom was employed as a machinist at Ely for eleven years,
and also had some interesting experiences in Cuba and Mexico. In Cuba
he was on a railroad survey, and while in Mexico during 1891-92 was
employed on a drainage plant in the city of Mexico, a public utility that
was established in the early history of that city. While at Ely
Mr. Morcom was with the Chandler Mine. In 1905 he was trans-
ferred to the Soudan Mine and for seventeen years has been local master
machinist and general foreman of that plant. Mr. Morcom was also one
of the organizers and is president of the Vermillion Boat and Outing
Company of Tower, an organization that looks after the comforts of
many thousands of tourists to the Lake Vermillion district every year.
April 26. 1893. he married Mary E. Cofifey. daughter of Bartholomew
Coffey. She was born in Michigan. They have four children. The sons,
Harold E. and Clifford J., are both employed in the local shops of the
Soudan Mine, and the other two children, Alvina and Ronald J., are both
at home. Clifford was with the Twenty-first Recruits Engineering Corps
at Camp Forrest, Georgia, during the World war.
For six years Mr. Morcom has been master of X'ermillion Lodge of
Masons, is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Council at Duluth
and the Knight Templar Commandery at Eveleth. He is a Republican
in politics, for several years has been a member of the Tower School
Board, and has also been township supervisor and justice of the peace.
He performs a practical duty in maintaining religious facilities.
WiLLL\M O. Pealer was born on a farm adjoining the village of
Asbury, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. August 4, 1855. His grand-
father, Daniel Pealer, moved to that county in an early day and accu-
mulated several hundred acres of rich farming lands. Daniel Pealer was
the father of fourteen children, twelve sons and two daughters. The
oldest son, George, became the father of the subject of this sketch. He
was born in 1818. and assisted his father until his marriage to Rebecca
Hampton, when he bought a piece of land and commenced farming for
himself, clearing and improving the farm on which William O. was born.
William O. Pealer's great-grandfather on his mother's side was Abijah
Hopkins, a prominent Episcopal bishop and circuit rider in western New
York and northern Pennsylvania during the early days.
George and Rebecca Pealer became Methodists, were W'higs in politics
and were prominent in the early history of the Republican party and
staunch Unionists during the Civil war. William O. was next to the
youngest and is the only survivor of a family of eight children. He
worked on the farm during the summer season and attended the district
school during the winter. Later, during the spring and fall months, he
attended one term at the Orangeville Academy and two terms at the
Columbus Academy, Pennsylvania, and during the winter taught district
school.
In 1877 he came west to Three Rivers, Michigan, where he made his
home with his brother Russell R. Pealer, a prominent lawyer of southern
Michigan who begun his practice at Three Rivers in 1867. Russell R.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 983
Pealer was a soldier in the Civil war, and served as circuit judge of
St. Joseph County and Branch County, Michigan, from 1882 to 1888.
William O. Pealer attended high school at Three Rivers and gradu-
ated from there in the spring of 1878. He then read law in the office of
his brother, and taught a term of district school during the winter of
that year, returning to the study of law again in the spring. He also
opened a real estatq office, out of which he made the money to enable
him to attend the law department of the University of Michigan, from
which he graduated in the spring of 1882. His brother, Russell R. Pealer,
having been elected judge of the Circuit Court of that district in the fall
of 1882, William O. commenced to practice law in the office formerly
occupied by his brother and continued to do so until Judge Pealer retired
from the bench, when they entered into a partnership and practiced under
the name of Pealer Brothers until 1890, when William O. moved to
Duluth.
While in Three Rivers, William O. Pealer was active in civic affairs
and in the development of the city. In 1887, on his instigation, and
with the assistance of A. C. Titus and Edward B. Lemmon, the Three
Rivers Building and Loan Association was organized and he became one
of the managing directors and its attorney. That institution has been
an active and prosperous institution ever since, and is now one of the
oldest and leading building and loan associations in the state of Michigan.
On coming to Duluth Mr. Pealer entered into the active practice of
law and later formed a partnership with Albert Titus, under the name
of Pealer & Titus, with offices in both Duluth and Superior, Mr. Pealer
remaining in Duluth and Mr. Titus in Superior. In 1893 Judge Bruce
Lemmon, a former schoolmate and friend of Mr. Pealer, joined the firm
and they continued under the name of Pealer, Titus & Lemmon, until
the fall of 1896, when Mr. Lemmon died. Later the firm was dissolved,
Mr. Pealer continuing the practice in Duluth and Mr. Titus in Superior.
In the fall of 1896 Mr. Pealer formed a partnership for the practice
of law with Judge Bert Fesler, and they continued to practice under the
name of Pealer & Fesler until Mr. Pealer was elected referee in bank-,
ruptcy, and Mr. Fesler became city attorney, when the firm was dissolved.
Since that time Mr. Pealer has been practicing law alone at Duluth, and
during the last sixteen consecutive years has filled the office of referee
in bankruptcy.
He is a member of the First Methodist Church of Duluth, is a Mason,
a Knight Templar, a member of the Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and
a member of the Commercial Club of Duluth. In June, 1883, he was
united in marriage with Ida M., daughter of Marvin M. Dennison, of
Union City, Michigan. Mrs. Pealer died in 1904. He has one daughter,
Florence M. Pealer.
John F. Segog. In the exploration, handling and development of
timber and mineral lines over the northwestern country John F. Segog of
Duluth has had a conspicuous part for many years. Acting for himself,
for associates, and for other aggregations of capital his business has been
one of great variety and involving an enormous aggregate of interests.
Mr. Segog was born at Canandaigua, New York, November 1, 1859.
His father, Byron G. Segog, was born in Ireland, was brought to America
by his parents, and lived at Canandaigua, where he died in 1862. John
F. Segog, the younger of two children, was three years of age when his
father died, and he was reared largely by his grandmother. As a boy he
did farm work in the intervals of his schooling, and remained in his
native state until his twenty-first year.
984 ■ DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
In 1882, thirty-eight years ago, Mr. Segog came to Minnesota, and
has ever since been engaged in the timber and mineral land business in
the northern part of the state. He has his offices in the New Jersey
Building at Duluth. In later years Mr. Segog has been an active member
in several organizations that have developed mineral properties. One of
the most important is the Wyoming Oil & Coal Company, in which he
is a heavy stockholder and the president. He is also president of the
Black Diamond Coal Company. Both these companies are fully equipped
to handle and develop properties for the production of coal and oil.
Mr. Segog is also president of the Wyoming Chemical Products Com-
pany, which he organized in 1917. This company has mineral properties
and rights involving sixteen merchantable mineral products, largely
derivatives or combinations of potash, aluminum, sulphate and other
salts. The headquarters of this organization are in Duluth and Mr. Segog
has active charge of the business. He is a Republican in politics.
George G. Barnum. One of the old residents of Duluth. Was born
in Buffalo, New York, October 10, 1843. Enlisted in the Hundredth
Regiment, New York Volunteers from Buffalo. Served three years in
the Civil war and retired as captain and is a member of the Loyal Legion.
Came to Duluth in 1867 as a member of the first survey party, surveying
a railroad from St. Paul to Duluth, afterwards known as the Lake Super-
ior and Mississippi Railway Company, of which he was the paymaster
and purchasing agent. Left the employ of the railroad company in 1873,
when with Col. J. B. Culver and William R. and George Stone he took
a contract with the Duluth Blast Furnace Company to bring up 300,000
tons of iron ore from Marquette. To do this they bought the propeller
Manistee and steamer Metropolis. The Manistee ran from Duluth to
Buffalo and the Metropolis opened a line from Duluth to Marquette.
These steamers were the first large boats on the lakes owned and operated
by Duluth people. The Manistee was afterwards lost between Bayfield
and Ontonagon. The steamer Metropolis, after running several seasons,
proved to be too small for the trade and was sold.
Mr. Barnum then entered the grain business at Duluth, was one of
the incorporators of the Duluth Board of Trade and general manager of
the Globe Elevator Company with a capacity of 5,000,000 bushels, for
eighteen years. He then organized the Barnum Grain Company, which
exists at this time. He has been identified with the Washburn-Crosby
Company since 1872 and is now one of the directors.
Herman T. Olson. In the community of Tower the first man in
business importance and civic enterprise is Herman T. Olson, who has
been writing his business record there for a number of years, and who
among other responsibilities holds the office of mayor and chairman of
the school board.
Mr. Olson was born at Paskin in Barron County, Wisconsin,. August
21, 1888, son of Halvor D. and Hattie (Olson) Olson. His mother was
born in Norway, while his father was of Norwegian parentage and was
born at Winchester, Wisconsin, in 1866. Halvor Olson followed farm-
ing and did work in the lumber mills of Wisconsin, and in 1903 removed
to Tower, where for a number of years he has been identified with the
police department. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the
Lutheran Church. There are five living sons : Oscar M., associated in
business as a merchant with his brother Herman ; Herman T. ; Samuel
D. ; Albert J., of Virginia; and Henry C, of Duluth, who served with the
Railroad Engineers in France in the World war.
^n
t,.
^ <^ J .V I.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 985
Herman T. Olson attended the public schools of his native town of
Paskin, also the high school at Olivet, Wisconsin, and finished his educa-
tion in Tower. About the time he left school he went to work for a
provision and meat company, then for two years was in the general
merchandise store of O. C. Sovde, for two years was clerk at the railroad
depot, and after a commercial course in Superior had employment in
different capacities with T. P. Corey, at Buhl, with the Crete Mining
Company at Hibbing, and in 1911 became clerk in the store at Tower
owned by N. J. Branson. He was soon given the responsibilities of man-
ager and in 1913 he and A. H. Lofgren contracted to buy the thirty thou-
sand dollar stock of goods. Mr. Lofgren had a thousand dollars and
Mr. Olson about six hundred, and this was the cash capital with which
they took over this extensive business. Both were energetic young busi-
ness men, and they handled the enterprise with gratifying results until
America entered the war with Germany, when Mr. Lofgren joined the
army and the entire responsibility fell upon Mr. Olson. He proved equal
to all demands made upon him, and today has the largest store of general
merchandise, drugs, hardware, groceries, dry goods and tourists' supplies
in this section of northern Minnesota.
Mr. Olson is also president of the Northern Outing Company. He
was recently elected mayor of Tower, and for several years has been
chairman of the School Board and secretary of the Commercial Club. He
is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and is affiliated with the Masons
and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Olson married Ethel E.
Burgess, daughter of J. N. Burgess, of Tower. Mrs. Olson died April
27, 1920, leaving three children: Harriet May, Robert B. and William H.
W. J. SuFFEL is one of the veteran merchants and business men of
Duluth, having been continuously identified with the commercial life of
the city for thirty-five years.
He came to Duluth well equipped in business experience gained in his
native province of Ontario, Canada. He was born at Vienna in that
province December 29, 1850, a son of George and Anna (Davison) Suffel.
His father was born in England and after settling in Canada operated a
general store at Prescott on the St. Lawrence River. He was a merchant
all his life and a very successful business man. In politics he was a mem-
ber of the Reform body. He was the father of nine children, four sons
and two daughters now living.
Second among them was W. J. Suffel, who grew up and received his
education in Canadian schools, and was a factor in the home until he
was twenty-seven years of age. He then became an independent mer-
chant at Emerson, Manitoba, and left Canada in 1885 to come to Duluth
and establish a general store, selling dry goods, boots and shoes. He was
soon enjoying a satisfactory trade and continued the general departments
of his enterprise until 1902, when he sold out and has since confined him-
self exclusively to the shoe business. He is now the oldest shoe dealer
in the city, and his business house at 206 West Superior street has for
years been known to the best people of Duluth for the high standard of
quality and service.
Mr. Suffel is a Republican voter and has long been prominent in the
Masonic Order. On December 7, 1876, he married Miss Mary R. Suffel,
whose people also came from Canada. At her death she left four chil-
dren, Mary R. and George, both deceased, and George E. and William
R. Suffel.
986 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Ernest Patrucco, who came to American soil ten years ago, has
shown a remarkable ability in adapting himself to the standard and spirit
of American institutions, and since coming to Duluth, which he selected
after careful examination of many other cities, has been instrumental in
developing a unique and important mutual service organization in the
general real estate field.
Ernest Patrucco was born in northern Italy June 22, .1890, and landed
at New York in May, 1910, immediately going to Canada, where for a
little over a year he was employed by the Anglo-Canadian Tanning Com-
pany. He then became teller in a private bank at Toronto, and after
about a year was promoted to cashier, and in that position enjoyed the
distinction of doubling the business of the previous year. His associa-
tion with progressive financial leaders next secured him a position with
the Froster Realty Comjjany. the largest real estate organization in Can-
ada. He started at the bottom of the ladder and was willing to prove
his efficiency. In a short time he was promoted and promoted again and
again, until he became a division manager and handled increasing respon-
sibilities with punctuality and integrity. In the meantime he had oppor-
tunity to travel over western and northwestern Canada, and continued
with the business until the latter part of 1914, when as a result of the
war business in general was seriously afi'ected all over Canada.
About that time Mr. Patrucco came to the United States and visited
many eastern and central cities, spending three months in Chicago and
eventually came to Duluth. He has always been a man of keen observa-
tion and of unusual business judgment, and his first, mature and serious
impressions convinced him that Duluth was the city in which he should
make his permanent home. He was impressed with the general prosper-
ity of Duluth, its general health and an atmosphere of contentment and
happiness. It seemed to him that the prosperity was the result of wealth,
the wealth was due to health and a good, invigorating climate, and that
the happiness was derived from both wealth and health. He also took
into consideration the geographical location of Duluth with respect to
commercial, advantages. Having some knowledge of the real estate
profession, he soon opened an office, and in the five years that have
elapsed he is more enthusiastic than ever about his home city, and is
thoroughly convinced of the wisdom of his choice of this place as his
business location and home.
In 1917 Mr. Patrucco in order the better to serve his clients organized
and promoted with others a real estate corporation known as the People's
Realty and Insurance Association, which now has a membership of about
a thousand stockholders. It is an institution organized under a unique
co-operative system, endorsed by leading experts, and one that has proved
most economical, practical and profitable. It has resulted in a wonderful
simplification of business routine, diminished the cost of operation, and at
the same time with increased efficiency of service. The company is in
fact an organization of a thousand members, both clients and patrons of
the institution, and lending strength to its work because each stockholder
is an active influence among all his relatives, friends and acquaintances.
Millard R. Bush. A resident of Duluth more than thirty years,
Millard R. Bush was distinguished chiefly during his early years by his
immediate superiors as a very energetic and useful employe, but for the
past five years has taken a wider interest and part in the city's com-
mercial life, as president of the well-known grocery house of M. M.
Gasser & Company, and since 1920 as a representative of the Fitzsim-
mons Palmer Company, wholesale fruit dealers.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 987
Mr. Bush was born at Waupun, Wisconsin, March 1, 1865, a son of
Homer D. and Mary (Pattinson) Bush. His father, a native of Massa-
chusetts, went to Wisconsin about sixty years ago, was' a pioneer in that
state, and for many years was engaged in the cigar manufacturing busi-
ness. Of his family of four children Millard R. was the second, and he
and his sister, Mrs. Henry T. Duer, are the only survivors.
Mr. Bush acquired his early education in the public schools of Fond
du Lac and Waupun, Wisconsin, and in 1882, at the age of seventeen,
became a grocery clerk at Fond du Lac. During the next five or six
years he acquired a rather detailed knowledge of the grocery business,
and that experience was his chief recommendation when he came to
Duluth in 1888. At that time, more than thirty years ago, he started
in as a clerk for the M. M. Gasser Grocery Company. In 1890, when
the store was sold to Epling Brothers, he continued with the new firm
two years. Following that he was clerk for Henry Foltz until 1900, in
which year he engaged in business for himself at Lester Park, where he
owned and operated a high class grocery under his own name until 1915.
In 1915 a corporation consisting of Arthur Haskins, Clarence Camp-
bell and Millard R. Bush bought the M..M. Gasser Company, retaining
the old and honored firm name. This business had been incorporated
for twenty-four years, and has long been one of the landmarks in the
business section of West Superior street, the house being located at 209-
211. The business record of the firm has been one of steady and sure
growth, and during the past five years the volume of sales and business
in general has actually doubled. Mr. Bush became president of the
corporation, a well deserved honor due his long and faithful service.
On April 15, 1920, he sold his interest in the Gasser Company and on
June 1. 1920, entered the employ of the Fitzsimmons Palmer Company,
wholesale fruits, of Duluth, and is so engaged at the present time.
For about two years, from 1913 to 1915, he was also interested in
the Mercantile Company. He is president of the Duluth Retail Grocers'
Association, is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Duluth, is affiliated with
the Masonic Lodge and is a Republican and a member of the Episcopal
Church. Away from business his chief recreation is fishing and hunting.
On November 28, 1889, he married Miss Jennie Uren, of English
ancestry. She was educated in the public schools of Houghton, Michi-
gan, and Duluth. and outside of her home has found such substantial
interests as the Red Cross during war times and membership in literary
clubs. To their marriage were born four children, all living, Ada, Gladys,
Charlie and Maude. Ada, who was born March 16, 1892, after finishing
the work of the public schools of Duluth attended the University of
Minnesota, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1915, for
four years was a high school teacher, and in 1919 became Mrs. G. F.
Wallis, and they now reside in Texas. Gla<iys, who was educated in the
grade and high schools of Duluth, attended Duluth Business University,
and is now a stenographer at 312 Columbia Building, Duluth. The son
Charles also had the advantages of the Duluth public schools, spent one
year on the fire patrol of the Oliver Iron Mining Company, and for
three years past has been a bookkeeper in the First National Bank of
Duluth. Maude, the youngest of the children, was educated in the gram-
mar and high schools of Duluth and is now attending the Duluth Business
University. '
William M. Prindle is president of W. M. Prindle & Company,
which firm is engaged in the handling of high class properties in Duluth'
and the placing of first mortgage loans. He is president of Prindle-Jones
988 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Company and vice president of Kirby-Griggs Company, which companies
operate a large insurance agency, handhng all classes of insurance. He
is also vice president of the George G. Newton Company of Superior,
Wisconsin, which company does a general real estate, mortgage loan and
insurance business.
Mr. Prindle was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, September 23, 1861,
son of George and Christine (Turner) Prindle. A few years later the
family moved to Wilmington, Illinois, where George Prindle was active
for many years as a retail merchant, returning later to Kalamazoo, where
he died in 1901.
William Prindle attended the public schools in Wilmington, the Monee
Academy for Boys and Kalamazoo College. After leaving college he
was employed in the operating department of the Chicago & Alton Rail-
road in various localities. He left the Chicago & Alton Railroad when
an opportunity arose for him to enter the general freight agent's office
of the Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company, and was soon advanced
to the president's office. This company was later absorbed by the Chi-
cago, Santa Fe & California Railroad, now a part of the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe system.
In March, 1887. Mr. Prindle came to Duluth and was associated with
Mr. Charles H. Clague in the real estate business until 1893. At that
time he organized with Mr. E. A. Merrill, then president of the Minne-
sota Loan and Trust Company, the firm of W. M. Prindle & Company,
which has always been one of the foremost real estate firms of Duluth.
Later Mr. Merrill retired from business and there are now associated
with Mr. Prindle in this business Mr. George G. Newton, vice president;
O. G. Lachmund. treasurer ; E. M. Dunbar, secretary, and William H.
Tones, vice president of Prindle-Jones Company.
There has been a steady development and growth in the business from
year to year and it now represents a large and complete organization for
the handling of properties, the making of mortgage loans and the writing
of insurance. Connected with this office are twenty-five employes.
Mr. Prindle is a Republican, a member of the various civic and social
clubs of the city, and has always taken an active interest in the develop-
ment of Duluth. He is also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars,
the Sons of the Revolution and the Mayflower Society.
January 18. 1888. Mr. Prindle married Mina N. Merrill, of Minne-
apolis, daughter of Daniel P. Merrill, of Geneseo, Illinois. Mr. and
Mrs. Prindle have one daughter, Muriel, who married Cornelius A.
Wood and now lives at Andover, Massachusetts.
Joseph R.^ndall, w^ho is chief of the Duluth Fire Department, has
been one of the valiant and gallant fire fighters of this northern city from
pioneer days, when the equipment was meager, when there were no
modern streets and boulevards, and when the buildings were chiefly one
and two-story affairs.
Mr. Randall was born May 6. 1864, in Ontario, Canada, and came to
the United States in 1883, at the age of nineteen, with his mother and
other members of the family. His father had died in Canada in 1882.
Of seven sons and five daughters two daughters are still living. Joseph
Randall, who acquired his early education in country schools in Canada,
found employment in a livery stable soon after coming to Duluth, and
later was a driver on one of the old horse cars when municipal transporta-
tion was dependent upon the strength of mules or horses to pull the cars
along the rails. Not long afterward he began his association with the
city fire department as a driver, and in 1889 was appointed a captain, in
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY^ 989
1893 was promoted to assistant chief of the fire fighting forces, and
since July, 1909, has been chief of the squadron. Chief Randall is per-
haps the only man who can tell from personal experience and knowledge
the history of Duluth's fire service through the past thirty or thirty-five
years. He is one of the veteran fire fighters of the northwest, has kept
the confidence and esteem of citizens and his subordinates, and has given
Duluth a splendid service in every respect.
He is affiliated with Lakeside Lodge No. 283 of the Masonic Order,
and is a member of the Rotary Club, the order of Elks and in politics
.votes as a Republican. October 28, 1896, at Duluth, he married Miss
May Patterson. They have two children, Margaret E., a graduate of the
University of Minnesota, and John J., now a student in high school.
Earl H. Marshall is one of the youngest wholesale merchants of
Duluth, being treasurer and general manager of the Marshall-Brown
Company, wholesale jobbers of cigars, tobaccos and candies at 306 West
Michigan street.
Mr. Marshall, who from early boyhood has been identified by actual
experience with the candy and tobacco business, was born at Grand
Rapids, Michigan, September 20, 1891, fourth among the nine children
of W. H. Marshall. His father was a native of Ireland and spent his
active career as a farmer. Earl H. Marshall secured his early education
at Grand Rapids, and at the age of ten years was selling newspapers on
the streets of that city. At fourteen he became a candy-maker's helper
in the factory of the Nation Candy Company and two or three years
later, in 1908, came to Duluth, and in 1910 entered the cigar business.
He was first associated with the Schiller Cigar Company, and later
operated retail stores of his own at 312 West Superior street and 500
West Superior street. On October 2, 1919, the Marshall-Brown Com-
pany was incorporated, with Mr. Marshall as treasurer and general man-
ager, R. J. Whiteside as president, and V. J. Lanigan, secretary. This
house has built up a large business as wholesale distributors of cigars,
tobacco and candy throughout Duluth and the Iron Range district.
Mr. Marshall is a Republican and is affiliated with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks. July 30, 1913, he married Ethel D.
Cohagen, and they have two children.
August J. T. Hanft. A prominent feature of the industrial district
of Duluth is the Globe Duluth Iron Works, one of the founders and
president of which is August J. T. Hanft, a practical and long experienced
machinist, who is qualified both. by technical ability and executive capac-
ity for the active head of this concern.
Mr. Hanft was born in Michigan November 21, 1881. His father,
Ernest Philip Hanft, left his native Germany on account of compulsory
military service and came to America in 1862, living for a time at Detroit,
but eventually moving to Duluth, where he died in 1884. August J. T.
Hanft is the youngest of five children, all of whom are still living. He
was educated in the public schools of Duluth, and as a youth was a cattle
herder for eight years. Following a three-years' apprenticeship at the
trade of machinist he worked as a journeyman for eleven years, and then
with his three brothers formed a partnership in the machinery business
under the name of the Globe Iron Works at Duluth. The business was
incorporated as the Globe Duluth Iron Works in 1918, with Mr. Hanft
president. E. W. Hanft, vice president, Michael P. Binane, secretary
and treasurer. This company has rapidly extended and expanded, and
now at its location at South Thirty-ninth avenue, West, operates three
990 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
large shops, with every modern equipment and device for the handling
and manufacture of machinery. They operate the most extensive machin-
ery repair business in the city.
Mr. August Han ft has always been regarded as one of Duluth's most
public-spirited citizens. He is a member of Palestine Lodge of Masons,
is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and a Republican. March 19, 1914,
he married Miss Signe M. Lindstrom. They have three children: Bar-
bara, Mary and Isabelle.
William C. Sargext. Among the strong and influential citizens of
Duluth, the record of whose lives have become an essential part of the
history of this section. W^illiam C. Sargent has exerted a beneficial
influence throughout the community where he resides. His chief char-
acteristics are keenness of perception, a tireless energy and honesty of
purpose and motive, which have enabled him not only to advance his own
interests but also to largely contribute to the material and moral advance-
ment of the city and county honored by his citizenship.
William C. Sargent was born December 4. 1859, in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, a son of George B. and Mary (Perin) Sargent. George B.
Sargent was a native of Boston, where he was reared and spent his early
years. In 1836 he went to Davenport. Iowa, and engaged in the mercan-
tile business for a number of years, but eventually moved from there to
New York city, where he became identified with the banking business.
In 1869 he came to Duluth and engaged in the banking business under
the name of George B. Sargent & Company, but which was closed out
by him at the end of five years. He had banking interests throughout
the state of Iowa, took an active part in public afifairs while there, and
was the originator of the Old Settlers' Association. As a contractor he
built the first church in Duluth, the Episcopal Church at Second avenue.
West, and Second street, and also built the Clark House and the Bay
View House. In many ways he was one of the builders of Duluth, having
by his efforts contributed in a very definite way to the early growth and
substantial foundation of this thriving community. He sustained close
relations with the Jay Cooke banking house of Philadelphia, and during
the years 1871 and 1872 went abroad three or four times, selling bonds
the proceeds from which were to finance the Northern Pacific Railway
for this banking company. George B. Sargent was a man of high attain-
ments, a discriminating and thoughtful reader and a close observer of
men and events. He was an authority on matters of finance, and held
a high position in the circles in which he moved.
William C. Sargent is the youngest of the ten children born to his
parents, all being deceased excepting Mr. Sargent and a sister, Mrs. F. W.
Paine, of 1007 London road, Duluth. After attending the public schools
Mr. Sargent was a student in the Shattuck School at Faribault, Minne-
sota, and at St. John's School at Manlius, near Syracuse, New York.
After completing his studies he went to work for the Northern Pacific
Railroad in Duluth as clerk. After three years of service in that capacity
he went into business for himself. In 1896 he was elected sheriff of
St. Louis County, serving for six years and discharging the duties of the
office in an efficient and satisfactory manner. Through the years of his
residence here Mr. Sargeant has been deeply interested in large farming
enterprises, and at one time opened up a large farm for John G. Williams
in Carlton Covmty, Minnesota. He has been connected with big dairy
farms in the capacity of superintendent, and is probably one of the most
ardent and enthusiastic believers in pure-bred cattle, especially for this
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 991
particular section of the country, where climate and grasses are well
adapted for the purpose.
In 1880 Mr. Sargent engaged in the real estate business, and has
been a leader in his line almost continually since then, having been iden-
tified with the establishment of many of the most popular and successful
additions to the city. He laid out Lakeside, London Addition and Lester
Park, the latter comprising five divisions, and was associated with the
Real Estate Exchange in the laying out of Waverly Park and other
divisions. Besides this particular line of work Mr. Sargent has also
been identified with a great many other business enterprises in Duluth
and elsewhere.
In January, 1887, at Syracuse, New York, he was married to Rhobie
L. Peck, a daughter of General John J. Peck, of New York state, who
was a graduate of West Point and prominent as a brigadier-general in
the Mexican and Civil wars, living tO be about sixty-five years old.
Mrs. Sargent received a splendid education in Syracuse and studied
music for several years abroad. To Mr. and Mrs. Sargent have been
born two children. William H., born October 4, 1887, was educated in
the public schools of Duluth and is now employed at the Duluth Creamery
and Produce Company. Rhobie L., who is a graduate of the University
of Minnesota, now holds the position of dietitian in St. Luke's Hospital,
Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Fraternally Mr. Sargent is a member of the Masonic Order, in which
he has attained all the degrees, the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, the Modern Samaritans and the United Order of Foresters, while
he also holds membership in the Elks Club, the Commercial Club, the
Kitchi Gammi Club and the Boat Club, having been especially active
in the last named. He has been successful in business, respected in social
life and as a citizen has discharged his duties in a manner becoming a.
liberal-minded, intelligent citizen of the state where the essential quali-
ties of manhood have ever been duly recognized and prized at their
true value.
Duluth News-Tribune. The pioneer journalist of Duluth was
Dr. Thomas Foster, who had earned a high reputation as an editor
before coming to the Head of the Lakes. He arrived at Duluth and
established his plant and on Saturday, April 24, 1869, issued the first
paper ever published at Duluth, known as the Minnesotian. Its chief
rival was the Superior Tribune, and a wordy and editorial warfare waged
between the Minnesotian and the Tribune for several years until it was
definitely determined that Duluth was to be the terminal of the first
railroad to reach the Head of the Lakes. This question settled and
Duluth rapidly forging ahead of Superior, the editor of the Tribune,
recognizing defeat, loaded his press, type, paper and other apparatus
on a boat and had it ferried across the bay to Duluth. On May 3, 1870,
the editor and publisher, Mr. R. C. Mitchell, issued the first number of
the Duluth Tribune. It was a weekly until May 15, 1872, when, sig-
nalizing the rapid growth of the young city, Mr. Mitchell began the
publication of the Daily Tribune, a six column paper with Associated
Press dispatches. Shortly afterward began the financial panic of 1873
and following years, during which the Daily Tribune suffered many
hardships and struggles. The daily publication ceased and on September
11, 1875, the Minnesotian-Herald came into the field. With renewed
business activity and better prospects Editor Mitchell in 1878 bought
out the Minnesotian, consolidating it with the Tribune, and for a time
the Tribune was the only paper in the city.
992 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
In 1878 W. S. Woodbridge started the publication of the Weekly
Lake Superior News. The Tribune was rapidly growing, increasing in
size, and in 1881 the Daily Tribune was re-established and continued by
Mr. Mitchell until 1889, when he sold it. In 1892 the Tribune was
sold to the News, and that was the beginning of the present title of the
News-Tribune. There were several changes of ownership during the
nineties until in 1899 the News-Tribune came under the control of
Mr. Milie Bunnell and associates, where it remains today. The News-
Tribune is not only historically the oldest paper in northern Minnesota
but is the chief organization for the collection and dissemination of
news, its special correspondents covering all parts of the great tributary
territory.
Clement M. Tramontin. Prior to and since the great fire Mr.
Tramontin has been one of the leading business men and citizens of
Chisholm, is a merchant with a large following of customers and also
actively associated with the civic and official life of the village.
He was born at Iron Mountain, Michigan, February 19, 1887. His
father, Frank Tramontin, was born in Italy May 1, 1853, and as a youth
learned and followed the brickmaking trade. In 1884 he came to the
United States and three years later acquired naturalization as an Amer-
ican citizen. For twenty years he was employed in the mining district of
northern Michigan and northern Minnesota, and was also in the saloon
business for six years. He was one of the first practical mining men to
visit and begin work in the Tower district of St. Louis County. No rail-
roads had been built there, and he had to pack in. He is one of the
veterans of the mining district and is now retired. He married in Italy
Lucy Francescina, and she followed her husband to the United States
after he had been here three years. Of their ten children Clement M. is
the fifth.
Clement M. Tramontin spent his boyhood days at Iron Mountain,
Michigan, attended grade schools, and at the age of thirteen was learning
the business and paying his way as clerk and general utility boy in a gen-
eral store at Ely, Minnesota. The first nine months his wages amounted
to his board only. After that he was given $10 a month and board, and
by the time he had been with the business seven years his services were
valued at $75 a month and board. When he first went there most of the
customers upon whom he waited were Indians.
Mr. Tramontin moved to Chisholm in 1907, and was connected with
the Jakse general store until the fire of "September, 1908. After that
destruction the business was resumed in a shack, and he continued with
the firm about seven months longer. Then with his brother Louis and
the Sartori brothers he opened a general store. The partnership was
dissolved at the end of two and a half years, and Mr. Tramontin and his
brother Louis then established themselves as merchants, operating a gro-
cery and provision store, and still continue that as one of the leading
retail concerns of Chisholm.
On February 8, 1911, Mr. Tramontin married Ehsa Martinetti, of
Soudan, Minnesota. She is of Italian parentage. They have three chil-
dren : Frederick E., born February 26, 1912 ; Clementia M., born Novem-
ber 23, 1913; and William F., born February 15, 1915.
While a hard working business man, Mr. Tramontin has given what
time he could spare to civic duties. He was a member of committees and
an active salesman during the Liberty Loan campaigns and served as a
member of the Home Guard during the war. He is a director and second
vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and served as village recorder
of Chisholm in 1913, 1919 and 1920. He is affiliated with Lodge No.
^^ — ' /^. wyZ ^i^y^/^^-tn^u^C<^<X^
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 993
1334 of the Elks, with the local lodge of Owls, and is a member of the
local Italian organization known as Christopher Columbus Lodge. Polit-
ically he votes independently and is a member of the Catholic Church.
James A, MacKillican. A mining engineer and mine operator of
wide experience whose work has brought him connections in many of the
western mining fields, James A. MacKillican is a well known figure in
mining circles at Hibbing, being superintendent of the Meriden Iron Com-
pany and of the Mace Iron Mining Company.
He was born in Door County, Wisconsin, January 13, 1882, son of
George D. and Mary (Foster) MacKillican. His parents were born in
Ontario, Canada, came to the United States in 1876 and located in Door
County, Wisconsin, where George McKillican was identified with the
lumber industry. Later he moved to Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan, where he died in 1890 and where his widow is still living.
James A. MacKillican was about seven years of age when his parents
moved to Escanaba and a year later his father died. He managed to
acquire a good education in the local schools, graduating from high school
in 1903. During the remainder of that year and most of 1904 he was a
student in the University of Michigan, and then entered the Michigan
School of Mines at Houghton, where he graduated in 1906. Subsequent
years were spent in a manner and in places calculated to give him the
largest amount of experience and the widest training to supplement his
technical education. For about four and a half years he was superinten-
dent of a mine in Montana for the Michigan & Montana Development
Company. For six months he was superintendent of the Comet Mine at
Hailey, Idaho, and another six months were passed with the Utah Copper
Company at Garfield, Utah.
After this experience in the far west he returned to Escanaba, where
for about eighteen months he was city engineer, and in 1912 he came to
Hibbing as assistant superintendent of the Meriden Iron Company. In
1917 he was promoted to superintendent of this company, and also was
made superintendent of the Mace Iron Mining Company. His knowledge,
executive ability and experience give him every qualification for handling
the duties of these offices.
Mr. MacKillican is a vestryman of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
of Hibbing, is a Republican voter, a member of the Masonic fraternity
and belongs to the Commercial Club and the Kiwanis Club. April 20,
1908, he married Miss Alfa Snyder, of Escanaba, Michigan. Their two
daughters are Laura Jane and Mary Margaret.
Edward J. Morrissey. The growth and development of any com-
munity is largely dependent upon the exertion of those men who devote
themselves to the exploitation of real estate. Without their energy, vim
and progressive ideas no locality will move out of the conventional rut,
outside money will not be attracted to it, and property will be worth but
little more as the years go by. With the advent of an enterprising, experi-
enced man well versed in the realty business comes a growth that is
remarkable. Many communities have proven this, and Buhl has been
no exception to the rule, and one of the men who has so materially aided
in its advancement is Edward J. Morrissey, one of the prominent realtors
of St. Louis County and vice president of the Buhl State Bank.
Edward J. Morrissey was born at Toronto, Canada, February 5, 1873,
a son of James and Harriet (Hargrave) Morrissey. James Morrissey
was born at Queenstown, Ireland, in 1812, and lived to be eighty-six years
old. After learning to be a mason he developed into a contractor in that
line of construction work, and as such came to New York state and was
y94 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
naturalized. His wife was born in Ireland in 1832, and came to the
United States when young. She, too, lived to an old age, dying when
eighty-three years old. They had eight children born to them, of whom
Edward J. Morrissey was the youngest.
Growing up at Pickering, Ontario, Canada, Edward J. Morrissey
attended school until he was fourteen years old, when he was apprenticed
to the brick-laying trade, and when he was seventeen went to the Buffalo
Iron Works and a year later became a riveter. This firm sent him lo
Chicago, Illinois, to work as a riveter on the Eine Arts building for the
\\'orld's Eair, and when he had completed that contract he went with
McArthur Brothers, one of the largest contracting firms of that city, and
was employed on the Drainage Canal construction work. In 1894 he went
lo Wisconsin and was with his brother for a short time, but then went
into the woods and was a lumberjack for three years. It was then that he
first came to Minnesota, and for a time was manager of Miles' Saloon at
Hibbing, leaving that position to open a saloon of his own in that city. In
April, 1916, Mr. Morrisesy came to Buhl and, buying the Stratford Hotel,
operated it until March, 1918, when he remodeled his hotel, and with a
group of men organized the Buhl State Bank, of which he is vice pres-
ident. He is also largely interested in real estate, handling principally
farm properties all over the state. He is at present the president of the
village of Buhl, having succeeded himself in this office. Politically he is
a stanch Republican. Eraternally he belongs to Hibbing Lodge No. 1022,
B. P. O. E., and is a charter member of the Moose and Redmen of Hib-
bing. He is a Catholic. During the great war he gave two years of his
time to local war activities, and has several testimonial appreciations from
the administration. Mr. Morrissey was a member of the Liberty Loan
Committees, of the Legal Advisory Board, and helped to organize the
American Loyalty League.
In 1896 he was married to Miss Efifie Thomas, of Wisconsin, a mem-
ber of an old English family, from whom he was legally separated. They
had one son. Earl S., who was born in 1898. This son enlisted in the
United States Navy for service during the great war, and was sent to the
Great Lakes Training Station. He studied radio and finished his course
in this at Harvard, following which he was sent to Cape Cod, Massa-
chusetts, where he served until that station was dismantled, and is now
a chief petty officer in charge of the radio station at Otter Cliff, Maine.
In October, 1917, Mr. Morrissey was married to Miss Hilda Schwen,
who was born at Mountain Iron, Minnesota. They have one son, Ed-
ward J., Jr.
Edward C. Cloutier. Of all the organizations designed for the well-
being of a community none can be of more importance than an effective
police department, for its basic duty is the protection of life and property,
it is a body with soldierly qualities, disciplined and trained, and pos-
sesses the same courageous spirit that leads to the endangering of life in
the performance of duty. Every community should take pride in its
police, and in testimony thereto see that the chief of this necessary body
be a man worthy of his high station, and, furthermore, give this chief
adequate material and public-spirited support. One of the fortunate situ-
ations in which Chisholm, Minnesota, finds itself is that in Edward C.
Cloutier, its police chief, it has a public official who is trustworthy in
fvery particular
Chief Cloutier was born November 5, 1885, at Somerset in Saint Croix
County, Wisconsin, the youngest of a family of sixteen children. His
parents were Damas and Delia (Vague) Cloutier, both of whom were of
French ancestry but were born in Canada, the father in 1822 and the
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 995
mother in 1837, their marriage taking place when the latter was but four-
teen years old. Her death occurred in 1902 and that of the father in
1904. In early manhood he had been a sailor on the Great Lakes but later
became a farmer in Saint Croix County, Wisconsin.
Edward C. Cloutier remained at home until he was sixteen years old,
in the meantime attending school at Somerset and assisting on the home
farm. He then went to Stillwater, and being strong and active had no
difficulty in finding employment, although only a boy in years, in the
lumber regions. For three winters he worked as a lumberjack in the
woods, and for three summers rafted logs on the Saint Croix boom.
Seemingly his chosen occupations were those that especially developed him
physicaHy and gave him the health and proportions that are often favor-
ably commented on in his official position today. For three more years
he worked as a lumberjack in the woods and in the harvest fields in the
summers. His next move was to Duluth, Minnesota, where three winters
were spent in the nearby lumber camps and during two of the summers
he worked as a helper in a boiler shop. It was here that he became
first identified with police duty, serving one summer as special patrolman
on the docks. In April, 1908, Mr. Cloutier came to Chisholm and served
for four and a half years as police officer for the Oliver Mining Com-
pany. After retiring from that connection he was appointed a village
patrolman, and in 1916 w^as promoted to a sergeantcy. He is now serving
in his third consecutive term as chief of police.
Chief Cloutier was married July 2, 1912, to Miss Elizabeth Rice, of
Ironwood, Michigan. They are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. During the great
war he was a member of the Home Guard and was active on committees
in all the patriotic movements.
Alfred J. McAlpin. Ably filling an office that calls for personal
courage, endurance, good judgment and executive ability, Alfred J. Mc-
Alpin, chief of the Chisholm Fire Department, enjoys with the esteem
and respect of his fellow citizens a large measure of their sincere ad-
miration. The duties of fire chief are never light and the responsibility
is always heavy. Under Chief McAlpin's administration the department
has been brought to a high standard of excellence, the equipment has been
kept instantly available and up to date, and the fire losses have been ma-
terially reduced.
Alfred J. McAlpin was born January 6, 1883, at Maple Lake, Wright
County, Minnesota, the sixth in a family of ten children born to James
and Mary (McDonald) McAlpin. His father was born in Ireland, came
to Canada when young, and in early manhood to the United States, where
he was naturalized. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for
many years. The mother of Chief McAlpin was of Irish parentage but
was born in Canada. He had educational privileges in the public schools
of Maple Lake until fifteen years old, after which for five years he gave
his father assistance on the home farm.
In 1903 Mr. McAlpin went to North Dakota, where for a time he
was clerk in a hotel, and afterward for about a year operated a grain
elevator. Returning then to his home in Wright County, in partnership
with a brother he leased and operated a farm for one year. Not being
quite satisfied with his future prospects in the farming line, he then went
to Minneapolis, in which city he was employed for a year by the Killgon-
Peddler Dump Car Works. It was in 1907 that he came to Chisholm to
work for the Shenango Furnace and Mining Company on a diamond drill,
later going to Hibbing in the same capacity. Once more he returned
home, but only for six months, when he went back to Hibbing and for
Vol. Ill — 5
996 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
two years afterward was a pipe man in the fire department there. In
1909 he again came to Chisholm, and served until 1912 as assistant chief
of the fire department here. From 1912 to 1914 he was a patrolman in
the police department, at the end of that time being appointed fire chief.
Chief McAlpin was married May 7, 1912, to Miss Mary Seeley, of
Cass Lake, who was born at Park Rapids, Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Her father was born in New York and her mother in Germany, the latter
having been brought to the United States in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Alpin have three children : Russell J., Edith M. and Joseph L., aged
respectively seven, four and two years. Chief McAlpin and wife are
members of the Catholic Church, and he belongs to the order of Knights
oi Columbus, and additionally is a member of the Brotherhood of Amer-
ican Yeoman and of Chisholm Lodge of Elks, No. 1334.
Otherwise than noted above, Chief McAlpin has been an active and
useful citizen of Chisholm. During the entire period of the great war he
was a member of the Home Guard body, and freely gave his services on
patriotic committees in relation to the Savings Stamps and Liberty Loan
drives. For three years he served on the Chisholm Board of Health, and
in every way has cheerfully accepted even burdensome responsibilities that
in his judgment pertain to the privilege of citizenship and add to the
general welfare of the community.
John F. Fredin has been a resident and business man of Duluth forty
} ears, and during the greater part of that time has been one of the build-
ing mason contractors of Northern Minnesota. His name is held in the
highest respect and there is an increasing appreciation of the substantial
qualities of his work and of his character as well.
He was born in Sweden March 7 , 1854. He grew up on the farm of
his parents, acquired a common school education, and before leaving
Sweden learned the art of masonry in stone and brick. He was about
twenty-six years of age when he came to Duluth, and as an individual or
as a contractor he has been identified with many of the most important
construction enterprises in brick and stone since he came here. He and
his organization laid the foundation for the Duluth Union Depot, and
a number of the city's best school houses and other public buildings, in-
cluding the Central High School. Mr. Fredin is a member of the Old
Settlers Association of Duluth and has long been officially identified with
the First Swedish Baptist church. He married at Duluth September 3,
1881, Anna Walldenspron, a native of Sweden. Three of their children
died in early childhood. * The seven to grow up were Allgott F., Conrad
George, David Herbert, John F., Jr., Esther, Gertrude and Hedvick Vir-
ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Fredin gave their children the best educational ad-
vantages, and most of them are now well established in homes or occupa-
tions of their own. John F. Jr., and Conrad both saw overseas service
in the great World war, John in the infantry and Conrad with the en-
gineers. Mrs. Fredin passed away on the 16th of May, 1919.
John H. Tresider. Thirty years a resident of northern Minnesota,
John H. Tresider has abundantly proved his fidelity, his capability and
his talents as a factor in the life of the Iron Ranges and has long been
one of the trusted and responsible men in the service of the Oliver Iron
Mining Company. He is now master mechanic for that corporation in
the Chisholm district.
He was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan, August 4, 1875, son of
Joel and Susan (Rodgers) Tresider. His father and mother were both
born in England. His father came to this country when a young man and
for many years followed mining on the northern ranges.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 997
Youngest of three children, John H. Tresider spent his early life in
Greenland, Michigan, where he attended the public schools through the
eighth grade. He was only about twelve years of age when his father
died, and that event threw him upon his own resources and he has been
master of his fate and destiny ever since. About 1888 his widowed
mother moved to Tower, Minnesota, and that brought Mr. Tresider to
the Range district of northern Minnesota, and his first employment was
with the concern that preceded the old Minnesota Iron Company in the
capacity of a horse driver at a derrick hoisting ore in the South Lee Mine.
Subsequently he had various other working positions, giving him a liveli-
hood and presenting opportunities to acquire a broadly diversified knowl-
edge of the iron mining industry. He was drill carrier, apprentice in a
machine shop and learned the machinist's trade, and about 1900 was
promoted machine shop foreman. In 1902 he was appointed master
mechanic and in 1905 transferred as master mechanic of the Mountain
Iron District. In 1910 came another transfer that was in fact a promo-
tion when he was made master mechanic of the Canisteo District at
Coleraine. From 1917 to 1920 he was superintendent of the Holman
Mine at Taconite and since January 1, 1920, has been master mechanic
of the Chisholm District.
Few men know the Mesaba Range more intimately than Mr. Tresider.
While his years have been devoted to business, he found time while at
Mountain Iron to serve about three years on the Village Council and while
at Coleraine was township supervisor four years and for two years a
member of the School Board. He is a Republican and a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. June 9, 1898, he married Anna McDonald,
of Tower. Their three children are named Mae, Margaret and Arline.
Arthur R. Folsom. Of all of the professions the law, perhaps,
requires the largest amount of study along generally uninteresting lines,
for the physician is apt to become absorbed in scientific discovery at the
beginning of his reading, while the minister starts out with a mind illum-
ined and a heart atune. The hard facts of the law that have to be
learned by themselves, and so learned that the understanding is quick-
ened into a comprehension that may later be drawn upon before judge
and jury, have very often discourged a student at the outset and have
resulted in his turning to a much easier vocation. Therefore it may be
easily seen that the successful lawyer must possess intellectual qualifica-
tions, and his logical understanding, his keenness, his tenacity of purpose,
and his unrivaled powers of application, all being necessary, must be de-
veloped to their utmost. Arthur R. Folsom, whose position at the St.
Louis County bar is unquestioned, is a man who has all of these qualities,
and never ceases to stimulate them by reading and investigation.
Mr. Folsom was born at Lake Crystal, Minnesota, January 23, 1885, a
son of Alfred and Mary S. (Rice) Folsom. Alfred Folsom was born in
New York, April 22, 1845, and comes of an old American family, his
forefathers having crossed from England to the American Colonies in
1648. His mother was the granddaughter of Ethan Allen. When he was
sixteen years old Alfred Folsom enlisted in the Fifty-second New York
Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war between the two
sections of the country. He was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor
and was in the hospital as a result for ten months. Returning home he
became a farmer after the close of the war. His wife was born at
Potsdam, New York, October 22, 1856, and also came of an old American
family. They were married in 1879 at Mankato, Minnesota, and became
the parents of five children, of whom Arthur R. Folsom is the third in
order of birth. His brother Rufus A. Folsom, who is next younger than
998 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
he, enlisted for service during the great war, and died of influenza at
Camp Lewis.
Arthur R. Folsom attended the grade school at Lake Crystal, and was
graduated from its high school in 1904. He then entered the University
of Minnesota, and was graduated from its law school in 1907, and was
admitted to the Minnesota bar that same year. At school he was inter-
ested in athletics, and he also belonged to Dillon Chapter of Phi Delta
Phi, a legal fraternity, and of Gamma Tau, a chapter of Sigma Nu. Fol-
lowing his admission to the bar Mr. Folsom entered the law office of
Jaques & Hudson at Duluth, Minnesota, and remained with that firm for
six months, leaving it to go with J. H. Morton, county attorney, and that
association was maintained until January, 1909, when Mr. Folsom moved
lo Hibbing and opened an office of his own, but in June, 1910, left Hibbing
for Buhl, where he has since remained, building up a large and remuner-
ative practice. He has been active in local affairs, is a leader in the Re-
publican party, and has been village attorney for four terms, attorney for
the township of Great Scott six terms and attorney for the village of
Kinney four terms. Mr. Folsom belongs to Buhl Lodge No. 1334, B. P.
O. E., Buhl Lodge, L O. O. F., and Buhl Lodge, L. O. M. The Meth-
odist Episcopal Church holds his membership. During the great war he
was prevented by circumstances over which he had no control from enroll-
ing in an officers' training camp until the day before the armistice was
signed.
On October 7, 1915, Mr. Folsom was married to Miss Martha E. Gil-
christ, of Lake Crystal, whose ancestors date back to Colonial days in
the history of this country. She died October 14, 1916, leaving one
daughter, Martha G., who was born October 11, 1916. On April 16, 1921,
Mr. Folsom married Hazel K. Bean, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In his
practice he is guided by intelligence and sustained and unwavering firm-
ness of purpose, and he carries these qualities into everything he under-
takes, and for this reason is so often called upon to accept of the respon-
sibilities of public office.
Emanuel T. Griese is one of the oldest experts in the service of the
Oliver Iron Mining Company in the Iron Range district of northern
Minnesota. For many years he has held the post of chief chemist with
that company. He is an industrial expert, a highly trained scientist, comes
of a family of professional people widely known at Cleveland and else-
where, and is one of the invaluable citizens of Hibbing.
Mr. Griese was born at Cleveland, Ohio, November 11, 1862, son of
Charles H. and Marie (Hanson) Griese. Both parents were of Danish
ancestry, his mother born in Denmark while his father was born in Ger-
many. Charles H. Griese was born April 24, 1821, and his wife was born
December 3, 1825. When about twenty years of age Charles H. Griese
came to the United States and located at Cleveland, Ohio, where he ob-
tained his naturalization papers. Five years later he returned to Europe
and completed his education as an architect and builder at Hanover, Ger-
many. His master work was completed at Copenhagen, Denmark, and he
then resumed his residence at Cleveland, where for many years his work
was conspicuous as an architect and builder and his name to this day is
one of special distinction in that great Ohio city. For two years Charles
H. Griese was a Union soldier during the Civil war. He died April 29,
1909, and his widow died on May 24, 1910. Of their nine children eight
are still living, and they also had two adopted children.
Emanuel T. Griese, sixth in order of birth, was reared in Cleveland,
and there and elsewhere acquired a liberal education and training for the
service he has given in mature years. He graduated from the German
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 999
Lutheran parochial school at Cleveland, spent four years in the Lutheran
Seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana, attended another Lutheran school.
Northwestern University at Watertown, Wisconsin, two years, and for
two years pursued special studies in chemistry and pharmacy at the
University of Michigan. He was a student of chemistry and metallurgy
for two years in the Ohio State University at Columbus, and then went
abroad for two years, completing his scientific education in Germany,
specializing in chemistry and metallurgy in the University of Berlin and
Freiburg University
With this well rounded education he returned to the United States and
rendered his first professional services as a chemist and metallurgist in
Cleveland. For a time he was chemist for the Iron Mountain Company
at Iron Mountain, Missouri, then went back to Cleveland, and on August
1, 1894, was engaged as chemist by the Lake Superior Consolidated at
Mountain Iron on the Mesaba Range in northern Minnesota. Thus for
over a quarter of a century he has been connected in a professional
capacity with the iron ore district of St. Louis County. In 1895 he went
to Duluth as chief chemist, and in 1903 his headquarters were transferred
to Hibbing, where for seventeen years he has been chief chemist of the
local offices of the Oliver Iron Mining Company.
December 6, 1895, Mr. Griese married Miss Lillie Hooper, of Roches-
ter, New York. They have two children, Harry T. and Sylvia E.
Leo C. Mitchell. The possibilities of northern Minnesota as an
iron production region are being recognized, but there was a time not so
far distant when these rich ore-bearing sections of the country lay undis-
turbed and pioneers rushed to other fields, overlooking the wealth which
lay close at hand. Not much more than a beginning has yet been made,
for the supply seems inexhaustable, but enough development has taken
place to change desolate timber tracts into thriving villages and cities and
to create a wealth of untold millions. One of the families connected with
the iron producing industry of northern Minnesota from the beginning
is that bearing the name of Mitchell, and a member of it at Chisholm is
Leo C. Mitchell, superintendent of the Monroe, Tenner, Chisholm, Clark,
Glen and Wellington Mines of the Oliver Mining Company, who has
made his home in St. Louis County for more than a quarter of a century,
and has borne his part in the wonderful development of the Range
country.
Mr. Mitchell has had a wonderful experience. Born at Hancock,
Michigan, September 9, 1864, he is one of the nine children born to the
marriage of Penticost J. Mitchell and Janet Robinson. The Mitchell
family is inseparably and closely interwoven with the history of St. Louis
County. As a boy Mr. Mitchell attended the public schools at Negaunee,
Michigan, and when he was fourteen years of age started out to be self-
supporting, and has continued to depend entirely upon his own eflforts
ever since. His first work was done as a clerk in a store at Negaunee,
but he later became a helper in a lumber yard, and then worked in a
sales stable. Before he was sixteen years old he was in the employ of a
mining company, having in the meanwhile, however, secured some experi-
ence in a gold mine at Buena Vista, and later at Leadville, Colorado. Still
later he went down into New Mexico and worked for a development com-
pany both in mining and lumbering. His mining experience has been in
copper, silver and gold, and is very complete. Continuing with this same
development company, he was sent by it into old Mexico and Arizona, and
was with it for ^re years.
Returning to Michigan, Mr. Mitchell went into iron mining operations
on the Gogebic Range when it was first opened in 1885, and filled various
1000 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
positions, including those of mechanic, pumpman and master mechanic,
and learning the business thoroughly. This work pi his covered the Colby
group of mines, now a part of the holdings of the steel corporation.
Through the ditterent changes in ownership Mr. Mitchell has since con-
tinuously worked for this concern. In 1894, after having worked on the
Gogebic Range from 1888, he was sent to Hibbing, of the Mesaba Range
of northern Minnesota. He has filled practically every conceivable posi-
tion up to his present one with his company. Few men know the mining
game as thoroughly and practically as does Mr. Mitchell, and he has
learned it in the school of experience and by actual operation. From Hib-
bing he came to Chisholm in 1902, and has been here ever since.
Mr. Mitchell is a RepubHcan, and has been elected on his party ticket
trustee of Chisholm, and as such has safeguarded the interests of the
taxpayers. The Presbyterian Church holds his membership and benefits
from his donations. His time is fully occupied with his business and
family, so he has not taken an active part in fraternal or social organ-
izations.
In 1887 Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Cora Goodwin, of
Ironwood, Michigan, and they have had eight children born to them,
namely : Walter D., who died when twenty years of age ; Leona, who is
Mrs. J. C. Madson; Claude, Chester, Pearl, Irma, Cora and Leo, who
died in infancy.
Chester Mitchell is a veteran of the great war, having served in it as
a member of the Eighty-seventh Division, Three Hundred and Twelfth
Supply Train. He was sent overseas and saw one year's service in France,
and received his honorable discharge following his return to the United
States after the signing of the armistice. Having given his country a
loyal service as a soldier, he is without doubt going to render it an equally
valuable assistance as a private citizen, for a Government worth fighting
for is worth supporting under any and all conditions. Mr. and Mrs. Mit-
chell have every reason to be proud of their fine family, and the young
people are reflecting great credit on their parents and the careful and con-
scientious training they have always received.
John Allen, proprietor of one of the largest garages and automobile
repair establishments in Duluth, has spent many years in Minnesota, and
has achieved his prosperity largely through the difficult role of hard toil.
Mr. Allen was born at Spring Lake, Michigan, September 5, 1869,
and grew up with a common school education and with a training that
fitted him for the active outdoor life. He came to Minnesota in 1892
and entered the service of the Swan River Logging Company at Swan
River. He w^as in the service of that concern continuously for twenty-
one years. Then for four years he was with the William Carlson Ore
Company on the Cuyuna Range, most of the time as superintendent of the
hydraulic department. This is a brief statement of a quarter of a century
of faithful and earnest toil and service. He then came to Duluth and
engaged in the automobile business. He has a large stock, with equipment
and skilled operatives for handling all classes of automobile repairs.
His garage is one of the largest in the city, being 106x156 feet, and
with storage space for sixty automobiles. He has a large business in
handling second hand cars, and keeps a large stock of automobile acces-
sories.
Mr. Allen is a Catholic, a member of the Knights of Columbus and
votes as a Democrat. August 5, 1900, he married, and he and his wife
have four children: Alice, Mabel, Jane and Nelson J. Allen. Mr. Allen
owns a fine home at 1409 East Superior street, where he has lived during
the past fifteen years.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1001
Samuel W. Lundall has been identified in a business way with
Chisholm since 1905. He was a merchant in the little village at the time
of the great fire of 1908, took part in the modern rebuilding and upbuild-
ing, and has in fact witnessed the changes and transformations that have
evolved a modern town out of a mining camp.
Mr. Lundall has effected in his personal destiny changes and develop-
ments hardly less noteworthy than those of this village. He had few
opportunities and advantages when a boy, and his resolution and persist-
ence have been responsible for the more than ordinary success he has
achieved. His birth occurred on a farm in Washington County, Min-
nesota, October 24, 1862. His parents, Munse and Dorothy Lundall,
were natives of Sweden and were pioneers in Minnesota territory, coming
to this country in 1858, not long after their marriage. The father
worked as a farmer in Washington County until he was able to acquire
a farm of his own. The Lundalls were in Minnesota when the entire
territory had a sparse population, and when the danger of Indian uprising
had by no means passed. There were evidences of pioneer hardship and
conflict when Samuel W, Lundall came to years of recollection and
conscious memory. He was one of four children. He had very limited
opportunities in such schools as existed at the time, and there was no
period from early boyhood when he was free from the responsibility of
work. He was only three years old when his father died, and at the
age of nine he was working as a dishwasher in a mining camp at Hink-
ley and subsequently did a great variety of rough and uncongenial work
in lumber camps and saw mills until he was about seventeen years of age,
when he began learning upholstering and the furniture business and mat-
tress making with John S. Bradstreet, one of the pioneer manufacturers
in that line in the northwest. Mr. Bradstreet's establishment was at
Minneapolis, and Mr. Lundall was employed there and in other concerns,
and in a modest way was in business for himself prior to 1905, when
he came to Chisholm. Here he entered the furniture and undertaking
business and later opened a stock of general house furnishings, and has
seen his business steadily grow and prosper.
A good business man, he has been equally a good citizen, and for
two years served as trustee of the village. He is a Republican in politics.
In 1902 Mr. Lundall married Mrs. Anna (Ryder) Rupp. She has one
son, Edmond Joseph Rupp.
Albert W. Shaw, M. D. Professionally identified with the Range
district of northern Minnesota for over twenty years. Dr. Shaw is physi-
cian and surgeon for practically all the mining companies operating in
the Buhl district, enjoys a large private practice, and is founder and
active head of a splendidly equipped and efficient private hospital at Buhl.
He is a cultured gentleman as well as a high class physician and surgeon,
possesses a strong sense of civic duty, and also has a keen appreciation
of the importance of the proper development of the coming generation.
He was born at Levant, Maine, February 26, 1871, and represents
old New England stock. His father, William Abbott Shaw, was born at
Exeter, Maine, January 3, 1825, and devoted his active years chiefly to the
tilling of the rough and rugged hills of New England. In 1849 he
joined the flood of gold seekers on the way to California, and altogether
made three trips to the gold coast. On one of these he w^alked across
the Isthmus of Panama. He spent much time in other sections of the
west. He was in Minnesota at the beginning of the Civil war, and
in 1862, immediately after the massacre at New Ulm, he drove an ox
team in company with a party of about four hundred men from St. Cloud
to the newly discovered mines of the northwest at what is now Helena,
Montana. He spent his last days at Buhl, Minnesota, where he died
1002 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
February 19, 1903. At Levant, Maine, he married Miss Julia Ett Cloud-
Ian, who was born at Garland, Maine, April 8, 1839, and was likewise
of New England ancestry.
Third in a family of six children, Albert W. Shaw acquired most of
his early education at Levant, Maine, but finished the work of the grade
schools at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his parents lived for seven
years. Cambridge is the seat of Harvard L'niversity, and he graduated
from a preparatory school there. In 1888, at the age of seventeen, he
came to Minneapolis, and during the next seven years was engaged in
the grocery business for himself. In pursuance of a long cherished
plan he entered the L'niversity of Minnesota ^Medical School in 1895, and
was graduated in 1899. His proficiency was recognized and for three
years he held the post of assistant prosector and assistant demonstrator
of anatomy in the Medical School. Soon after graduating in May, 1899,
he came to Eveleth, Minnesota, as assistant to Dr. C. W. More, and
on September 9, 1901, came to Buhl as company physician for the Sharon
Ore Company and the Drake-Stratton Company. Soon afterward he was
given the additional duties of local surgeon for the Mesaba and Great
Northern Railroad, and about that time engaged in a general practice,
having equipped a small hospital of his own. He is now the senior
physician and surgeon for all the mining companies around Buhl and as
a means of handling to better advantage his growing surgical practice
he built in September, 1918, the handsome hospital, a brick building
advantageously located, containing thirty-six beds, and with all modern
facilities, including X-Ray apparatus, diagnostic laboratories and fully
appointed operating room. The hospital has a staff of four physicians,
Drs. S. ]\I. Johnson, \V. W. Weber, E. C. Smith and G. R. Allaben, and
has also three trained nurses. Dr. Shaw is a member of the Range
Medical Society of St. Louis County, the State and American Medical
Associations and the Association of Railway Surgeons. He has taken
much interest in local affairs since coming to northern Minnesota, and
was a member of the township board nine years. He is a Knight Templar
Mason and Shriner, being affiliated with Hematite Lodge No. 274, A. F.
and A. M., and has also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish
Rite. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Episcopal
Church. September 24, 1902, he married Miss Anna Laura Purdy, of
Logansport, Indiana. She was born January 31, 1877. and represents
a Revolutionary family and is a member of the D. A. R. To their
marriage were born three children, Lewis Preston, on December 23, 1904;
Charlotte Rosamond, on May 10. 1908; and Jean, on January 27, 1916.
LeRoy Salsich, who has spent much of his adult life on die iron
ranges of northern Minnesota, was born at Hartland in Waukesha County,
Wisconsin, December 20. 1879, oldest of the five children of Hamilton E.
and Jane W. (Bourne) Salsich.
LeRoy Salsich attended the grade schools of his native town, also the
East and South Side High Schools of Milwaukee, and in 1897 entered the
University of Wisconsin, where he was graduated with the Bachelor of
Science degree in 1901. A young man of university training, he came at
once to northern ]\Iinnesota, and for a brief time was in the employ
of the Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines at Duluth. Since then
his service has been continuous with the Oliver Iron Mining Company.
In 1902 he was appointed chief engineer for this corporation for the
Hibbing district, was transferred to Coleraine in April, 1905, and there
served as chief engineer, was superintendent of the Holman Mine in
1906, assistant general superintendent of that district in 1911, and became
its general superintendent in June, 1913. He was a resident of Coleraine
r
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1003
ten years, and during that time took a keen interest in the upbuilding
of the community. Mr. Salsich came to Hibbing to make his home in
1918, and since May of that year has been assistant district manager for
the Oliver Iron Mining Company.
He is a member of various technical societies, and is a Republican
in politics. In August, 1904, he married Miss Elisabeth Frazer, of
Duluth.
William Marshall Tappan, general superintendent of the Oliver
Iron Mining Company at Hibbing, first entered the service of this great
corporation twenty-two years ago as an office man, and with accumulating
experience and knowledge has qualified himself for some of the higher
executive responsibilities.
Mr. Tappan was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 4, 1875, a son of
William M. and Adaline (Allen) Tappan. The Tappens were early
Dutch colonists on Manhattan Island, and the family has furnished
many people of distinction in American life and affairs. Mr. Tappan
through his mother is a direct descendant of General Ethan Allen of the
Revolutionary war. William M. Tappan, Sr., was a civil engineer and
a ship builder, served as a soldier of the Union army during the Civil
war and died in Cleveland March 20, 1915, at the age of eighty-seven.
The mother survived until April 14, 1921.
William Marshall Tappan was reared in his native city, graduated
from high school and spent three years in Baldwin University at Berea,
Ohio. His first experience was in the office of Corrigan, Ives & Com-
pany at Ramsey, Michigan, one year, following which he was employed
as an accountant in the offices of the Carnegie Steel Company at
Pittsburgh for nearly three years, and he spent about three years
on the Pacific Coast, most of the time in charge of a salmon canning
factory at Astoria, Oregon. Mr. Tappan returned east in the fall of
1898, and soon afterward entered the service of the Oliver Iron Mining
Company at Ironwood, Michigan. Four months later the company trans-
ferred him to Iron River as office manager, and in the fall of 1903 they
sent him to Hibbing, where he has had his business headquarters ever
since. He came to Hibbing as chief clerk in the offices of the corporation,
in 1905 was promoted to superintendent of the Pillsbury, Glen and Clark
Mines, in January, 1906, was made superintendent of the Hull-Rust
Mines, handling the duties of that position for five years, and in 191 1 was
promoted to assistant general superintendent of the Hibbing district under
William J. West. Mr. West is now a resident of Virginia, Minnesota, and
was succeeded as general superintendent of the Hibbing district by
Mr. Tappan.
Mr. Tappan, though one of the leading industrial executives of the
Range country, is an exceptionally modest man, and by his manner seldom
betrays any of the heavy weight of responsibilities he bears. He is a
member of the Commercial Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Algonquin Club,
is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner and in 1914 was worshipful
master of Mesaba Lodge No. 255, A. F. and A. M., is a member of the
Episcopal Church and gives his political support to the Republican
party.
Mr. Tappan married Miss Gertrude Goss, of Cleveland, Ohio. Their
three sons are William Hardesty, Warren Marshall and John Goss
Tappan.
Charles Baxter came to Duluth nearly thirty years ago, and almost
from the beginning his name has been familiar in the great lumber indus-
tries centering in the city. Mr. Baxter is now the active head of the
1004 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Baxter Sash & Door Company, one of the chief organizations for the
manufacture of finished products in the city.
Mr. Baxter was born at Leith, Scotland, January 9, 1865, and has
achieved independence as a manufacturer and business man after a rather
humble boyhood and youth. He attained the equivalent of a common
school education in Scotland, and in 1885, at the age of twenty, came
to America and for two years lived in Chicago, where he followed his
trade as a carpenter. From Chicago he moved to Winona, Minnesota,
worked as a carpenter there two years, and was then at St. Paul, an
employe of the Bohn Manufacturing Company until 1892.
On removing to Duluth in 1892 Mr. Baxter was connected with
one of the great lumber firms of that time, the Scott-Graff Lumber
Company. In 1900 he withdrew and with P. C. Ouellette established
a new firm known as the Ouellette-Baxter Company, operating a lumber
mill for the manufacture of sash and door and interior work. In 1908
the firm name was changed to the Baxter Sash and Door Company, and
that is the title at present.
The first year the business production was valued at about fifty thou-
sand dollars. Now the aggregate annual volume runs over three hundred
thousand dollars. The facilities are strictly confined to the manufacture
of lumber, sash, doors and interior trim, and this material is shipped
over the states of Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan and as far west as
Butte, ^Montana. The factory is equipped with some of the finest and
most modern machinery for mill work, all the machinery being electrically
oriven. The factory and warehouses cover about five acres of ground on
the Northern Pacific & Soo Railroads, and the force of men employed,
many of them expert workers, numbers about one hundred.
Mr. Baxter has thus built up a big industry, and that has been his
chief contribution to Duluth, since he has never cared for the vexations
and cares of politics. He is an independent voter, is a thirty-second
degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America. He married at Superior, Wisconsin, in 1898, and has two
children, Marion and Donald.
Max H. Barber has spent nearly all his life in the mining districts
of northern Michigan and Minnesota, is a civil engineer by early train-
ing and profession, but practically ever since leaving university has been
connected with the Cleveland-Clift's Iron Company, for which he is now
district superintendent of the Minnesota properties, with headquarters
at South Hibbing.
I\Ir. Barber was born at \'ermontville, Michigan, November 13, 1879,
son of M. F. and Agnes (Hayden) Barber. His father from 1893 until
his death in 1901 had charge of the Lake Superior Powder Company's
business on the Mesaba Range. He died at Virginia.
The early years of Max H. Barber were spent at Ishpeming, and he
graduated from high school in 1898. Not long afterward he entered the
University of ^Michigan and was in the civil engineering department,
taking his degree Civil Engineer in 1903. He at once became identified
with the Cleveland-Clififs Iron Company, serving in the engineering
department until 1911, and since then in the operating department. Mr.
Barber is a member of the American ^Mining and Metallurgical Engineers
Society and belongs to a number of technical organizations. He is a
Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Episcopal Church. January
2, 1907, he married Dorice H. Wood, of Iron Mountain, Michigan.
James H. ]\IcNivex, for fourteen years a resident of Chisholm, is
recognized as one of the foremost citizens of the village, and is one
of those progressive, virile and efficient characters that succeed in any
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1005
locality and under all circumstances by the very force of a compelling
personality. Mr. McNiven is a native of Canada, having been born in
the Province of Ontario December 10, 1879. He is a son of James
H. and Minerva (Mount) McNiven, farming people of Canada, coming
of Scotch descent.
Growing up in his native country, James H. McNiven, the younger,
attended the country schools and graduated from high school in 1896.
Later he became a student of the Hamilton Normal School, and after
he had completed its courses, entered the educational field and for four
years was engaged in teaching school. Leaving Canada in 1902 for
the United States, he found employment for his talents as an instructor
of a commercial course in the Duluth Business University, and remained
at Duluth, Minnesota, in that capacity for two, years. However, he is
a man of too much energy and determination to rest content with the
opportunities offered in the calling of a teacher, and sought another
opening with the International Harvester Company and for six months
held the position of credit man for western Canada, with headquarters
at Regina.
During the time he had been at Duluth Mr. McNiven had found
that he preferred the United States to Canada for business purposes,
and so accepted the offer made to him by A. M. Chisholm to enter his
employ and look after his town site business, and he remained with
and organized the McNiven Land Company, and is now engaged in con-
that gentleman until 1916, in 1906 locating permanently at Chisholm.
In 1916 Mr. McNiven bought Mr. Chisholm's interest in the land business
ducting the affairs of this flourishing concern.
When he first came to the United States Mr. McNiven took out
naturalization papers, and since he became a citizen has been called upon
to hold various offices. In 1913 and 19 14 he was a member of the
Village Council of Chisholm, and in 1916 was elected to the Lower House
of the Minnesota State Assembly and served during 1917 and 1918. While
in the Legislature Mr. McNiven took a very active part in the sessions,
and some very constructive measures were passed through his support.
He is a member of the Chisholm Commercial and Kiwanis Clubs. He
belongs to the Masons and Elks, having attained to the thirty-second
degree and the Mystic Shrine in the former fraternity.
On October 25, 1910, Mr. McNiven was united in marriage with
Miss Effie Van Fleet, of Kilbride, Ontario, and they have one daughter,
Margaret., Mrs. McNiven is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. McNiven is a man who possess the caliber of brain,
strength of will and indomitableness of ambition which make anything
possible. He is a recognized authority on public questions and a close
student of politics. Probably no better man could have been selected by
Mr. Chisholm to shape the destiny of the new village, for he possesses
the grit, vision and really marvelous ability to overcome obstacles, with-
out which characteristics no one could hope to succeed in such a project.
The people of Chisholm appreciate the value of the services he has and
is rendering, and look to him to further represent their interests in affairs
of public moment.
George R. Barrett. The first noteworthy mining activities began
in the Buhl district about twenty years ago, and the most substantial
period in the history of that town has been during the last twelve years.
Throughout this period since 1905 George R. Barrett has been located at
Buhl as assistant inspector of state mines and has been otherwise officially
and in business prominent in the community.
Mr. Barrett was born at Medford, Wisconsin, July 19, 1881. His
1006 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
father, Frederick Barrett, had some pioneer distinctions in northern Min-
nesota. He was born at Clearfield, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1843,
and in his youth qualified as a physician and practiced for some years
in Pennsylvania. Later he lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in
the latter state was engaged in the newspaper business. He was one of
the first men to visit the Mesaba Range, and opened the Ohio mine
at Virginia. In 1873 Dr. Frederick Barrett married Caroline Redmond,
who was born in New Orleans October 5, 1844.
Third among their four children, George R. Barrett acquired a com-
mon school education at Tower, Minnesota, and for a year and a half
was a student at Wilder, a preparatory school in Southern Minnesota.
Since then he has had a busy career, largely one of progressive accom-
plishment and service. For one winter he was employed as timekeeper
on a railroad, the next summer was general clerk at a lumber camp
at Crane, Lake Portage, then for seven or eight months was assistant
to the storehouse keeper of the Minnesota Iron Company at Soudan,
for one year was shipping clerk and another year underground time-
keeper, and in 1900 became timekeeper at the Fayal Mine at Eveleth,
and for three or four months worked as an underground miner in the
same mine. The following winter he spent setting corner posts at Aurora,
and during the spring, summer and fall tried selling life insurance.
Mr. Barrett during the following session of the Legislature was in St.
Paul as accountant for the Public Accounts and Expenditure Committees
at the House of Representatives.
It was in April, 1905, that he came to Buhl as assistant inspector of
state mines, and in that capacity he has served ever since. His practical
knowledge of mining and his wide business experience eminently qualify
him for the duties of his office. He has also done much business in the
buying and selling of land and is agent for a number of fire insurance
companies.
Mr. Barrett was elected and served as a member of the Buhl School
Board from 1909 to 1912 and again in 1919-20. He was president of the
village in the years 1911, 1912, 1915 and 1916. Politically he is affiliated
with the Republicans, is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose at Buhl
and his church is the Episcopalian. August 26, 1908, he married Miss
Jessie Cross, of Warren, IMinnesota. She is a member of an old American
family. They have four children: Frederick Cross, George R., Jr.,
and Bess twins, and Jessie Louise.
GusTAVE A. Wellner. a resident of Hibbing for twenty-three
years, Gustave A. Wellner is one of the community's best known citizens
and business men, and has exerted himself at all times to promote the
substantial welfare of his community.
A native of Minnesota, he w^as born near the historic town of New
L^lm in Nicollet County December 6, 1873. Simon Wellner, his father,
was born in Germany, spent his regular term in the German army, but
chose to rear his own family in a land of liberty free from the influences
of militarism. In 1854 he came to this country, Hved for two years at
Freeport, Illinois, and then moved to the territory of Minnesota and was
one of the pioneers in the New Ulm district. He took up a homestead
and engaged in farming there and lived to the age of eighty-four. He
was one of the solid and substantial men of the community and for many
years served as school treasurer. At New Ulm he married ]\Iinnie
iieckmann, who is still living in that vicinity, where all her children, six
sons and two daughters, were born.
Gus Wellner grew up on his father's farm, acquired his education
in the graded schools of New Ulm, and began his individual career in
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1007
his twentieth year. His first efforts were expended as a farmer, subse-
quently he worked in railroading service, and for a time clerked in a
grocery store at St. Peter, Minnesota. When in August, 1897, he came
to Hibbing he was employed as bookkeeper for the Carlson Mercantile
Company, and continued that service for this corporation nearly six years.
About that time the Carlson Exploration Company was organized, and
Mr. Wellner then became financially interested in that business and as
secretary and office manager has been identified with the affairs of the
corporation ever since. He is also a well known banker, being a director
of long standing in the Merchants and Miners Bank at Hibbing, and
for several years past has been president of the First National Bank
at Buhl.
Mr. Wellner is a Republican^ a member of the Lutheran Church and
is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. August
17, 1899, he married AdaHne Luetjen, of New Ulm, Minnesota. Their
three children are Alice S., Nevada C. and Norma A.
Joseph Becks. The history of the Head of the Lakes during the past
forty years is largely a matter of personal recollection to Joseph Becks,
who came to the Lake Superior country a friendless lad, endured many
of the trials and vicissitudes of those who had to depend upon their
toil for support, but in later years has become one of the best known
citizens of Duluth, both in business and in public affairs.
Mr. Becks was born in Finland, where he was reared and educated,
and at the age of sixteen came alone to the United States in 1881. His
first location was at Marc|uette, Michigan, where he found work at
railroading for about seven months. In 1882 he paid his first visit to
Duluth, did railroading at Bayfield during the following winter, and in
the spring of 1883 went to work for Captain McDougall at Duluth,. and
during the summer trimmed grain, wheat, corn, flax, and also unloaded
railroad steel for the construction of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad.
From the fall of 1883 until the fall of 1884 he was working on the
Canadian Pacific at Port Arthur, and returned to Duluth just in time to
get into the ranks of the unemployed during the hard times era. He
was unemployed for ten months, and then sought opportunities again at
Port Arthur, where he remained until 1887, part of the time working
on the Canadian Pacific on the surface road, then in the silver mines
known as the Silver Mountain, Beaver Mine and Robin Mountain.
Again in Duluth, Mr. Becks found opportunity for his service in the
work of opening up Third street, and was also employed in the Woodruff
Lumber Yard. In the spring of 1888 he entered the service of Scott &
Holson on Lake avenue, and when that firm was succeeded by the Scott-
Graff Company in the spring of 1890 he remained with them until 1892.
During 1893-94 he was employed in a saw mill piling lumber and in
other duties and also did constructive work at the Ore Docks. This
eventually became his chief employment, and at varying intervals he
continued construction work at the ore docks and house building until
1909.
For over ten years Mr. Becks has largely devoted his time and best
efforts to the responsibilities of public office. During 1909-10 he was
street commissioner of Duluth, was inspector for the water and light
department in 1911-12, and during the next four years was with the
Minnesota Steel Company as foreman of construction two and a half
years and one year as foreman of operation. In the fall of 1916 he was
elected county commissioner of St. Louis County, and the duties of that
office have absorbed his time ever since.
1008 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mr. Becks is affiliated with Euclid Lodge No. 198, A. F. and A. M.,
is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite ^Mason and Shriner, is a member
of Lodge No. 168 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of
the Encampment, and Excelsior Lodge No. 59 of the Rebekahs. He
has had all the honors in the Subordinate Lodge and was representative
to the Grand Lodge of Minnesota Odd Fellows. He is a member of the
Tall Cedars Order, the Loyal Order of Moose No. 505, Improved Order
of Red Men, Modern Samaritans, and for fourteen years was secretary
of the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is also a member of the
Old Settlers Association, and the West Duluth Commercial Club. Religi-
ously he is affiliated with the Elim Swedish Lutheran Church. In politics
he is non-partisan in local affairs, and a Republican in state and national
elections.
May 24, 1890, Mr. Becks married Miss Hannah Mattson. Of the
seven children born to their union only three are now living: Fred A.
Becks, born at West Duluth September 15, 1892, is a shoe dealer; Hildur
E. Becks, born August 28, 1894, is a bookkeeper and stenographer; and
J. Arthur Becks, born May 19, 1899, is learning the machinist's trade
with the Minnesota Steel Company.
William L. Gallow'ay has devoted forty years or more of an active
lifetime to commercial pursuits. He has been a merchant on the Iron
Ranges of Minnesota for a number of years, and has the leading dry goods
establishment at Chisholm.
He was born on Green River in Calhoun County, Kentucky, July 21,
1860. His father, Samuel Galloway, was a native of Floyd County, Indi-
ana, and a cooper by trade, though for forty years of his career most of
his time was devoted to the teaching of vocal music. The Galloways were
a family of talented and natural musicians, and for many years achieved
more than local fame in southern Indiana. All of them could sing. At
picnics, celebrations, festivals and in political campaigns their melody was
heard and applauded. William L. Galloway was one of nine children,
and before he had learned to read he appeared with the rest of the family
and sang alto. Music was one of the strong bonds which cemented the
affections of this family. Time with its inevitable changes has broken
the golden links of those associations, but they remain a golden memory to
the survivors.
Samuel Galloway married Belinda Smith. They were living in Ken-
tucky when the Civil war came on. His sympathies were with the north,
and the Kentucky neighborhood becoming uncongenial he removed to
Bloomington, Indiana, and later to Terre Haute, where he died.
William L. Galloway spent most of his boyhood in Terre Haute, at-
tending graded schools, and acquired his early knowledge of business as
clerk in a general store at Newport, Indiana. When his employers moved
the store to Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1884 he went along with it and re-
mained as clerk. Subsequently he went on the road as traveling represen-
tative of a wholesale house in St. Joseph, Missouri, covering Kansas and
what is now the state of Oklahoma, and for six years made his headquar-
ters at Wichita. He then went back to his old home state of Indiana and
took a position in a Terre Haute house as clerk at wages of $15 a week,
but in a few years had been promoted to general manager.
Mr. Galloway came to Duluth in 1905. For four years he was depart-
ment buyer for the firm of Panton & White. In 1909 he opened a store
of his own at Hibbing, and conducted a business there for seven years.
Then, in April, 1916, he moved to Chisholm, and as a merchant and citi-
zen has been closely identified with that community. He bore a large share
of burdens in connection with local war activities. Mr. Galloway was the
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1009
first man to be examined and was the first charter member of the first
lodge of the Knights of the Maccabees in Indiana, and he still keeps his
membership in that order at Terre Haute. He is a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. His first wife was Miss Carrie Glanton Cush-
man. She died in 1906, the mother of two children: Harriet Fae, who
became the wife of Wilfred Lewis and moved to Wisconsin and died at
Menasha in that state at the age of twenty-seven ; and Mae, who died
when three years of age. In 1909 Mr. Galloway married Miss Ida
Wethal. They have three sons: William Leonard, Jr., Richard S. and
Grant Wesley.
John Butler, secretary of Butler Brothers, contractors and mine
operators, is one of the important business men of Buhl, and one of the
representative citizens of St. Louis County. He was born at Waterford,
Minnesota, August 20, 1861, a son of Patrick and Mary Ann (Gafifney)
Butler. Patrick Butler was born in Ireland, March 17, 1823, and was a
farmer by occupation. When he was twenty-one years old he came to
the United States, and as soon as possible after his arrival he took out
his papers of citizenship. His wife was also born in Ireland, her birth
occurring in 1830. They were married in the United States in 1853, and
they became the parents of nine children, of whom John Butler is the
fourth in order of birth.
Although John Butler received but limited opportunities for attending
school, he was well taught by his father, who was a well educated man.
When only nine years old he began to make himself useful on the farm,
and the lessons of industry and thrift he acquired at an early age have
never been forgotten. In 1888 he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, and
with his brothers engaged actively in a contracting business, carrying on
building and excavating, and executed some very large contracts, among
which was the Minnesota state capitol building, to obtain the marble for
which he spent three years at the quarry in Georgia. Another big con-
tract was the railroad construction work and iron docks at Ashland,
Minnesota, and a third, the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. During 1901 Mr.
Butler was engaged at Minneapolis in railroad construction for his firm
and in 1902 came to the Range, where he has since remained. In 1902 the
firm of Butler Brothers took contracts for stripping and mining the
Cypress and Leetonia Mines, completing their contract for the former in
1907 and latter in 1910. In 1908 they took contracts for stripping and
mining the Sliver and La Rue properties of the M. A. Hanna Company,
completing their obligations in 1913. In 1909 Butler Brothers took a
contract to strip and mine the Grant Mine at Buhl, the property of the
Jones-Laughlin Company, and completed this in 1914. In 1911 they took
the contract to strip and mine the Long Year Mine near Hibbing, which
was owned by the same company, and completed it in 1914. In 1912
they took the contract for stripping the Dean Mine at Buhl, and the Smith
Mine near Hibbing, completing the contract of the Dean Mine in 1916
and of the Smith Mine in 1914. In 1913 they took a contract for partially
stripping the Wakefield Mine at Wakefield, Michigan, owned by the M. A.
Hanna Company, and finished this contract in 1914. Another contract
taken by them in 1913, for the stripping and mining of the Morrow Mine
near Eveleth, Minnesota, the property of Captain Sell wood, was completed
in 1914. In 1912 they took a contract for stripping the Bennett Mine, a
Great Northern property, and completed it in 1917. In 1915 they con-
tracted to strip and mine the Plymouth Mine near Wakefield, Michigan,
and completed the contract in 1917, and that same year, 1915, contracted
to strip and mine Mace Mine Number 2, near Nashwauk, and are still
working on that contract. In 1920 they took a contract for stripping the
1010 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
South Judd Mine near Holman, Minnesota, which property is owned by
the Oliver Mining Company, and they are now working on it. In 1913
Butler Brothers took a lease on the Ouinn Mine, and operated it as an
open pit mine. This was their first lease, but since then they have ac-
quired leases on the Smith, the Lambuton, the North Harrison, the Har-
rison, the Patrick, the Kevin, the Ann and the Margaret, all of which are
still producing, except the Ann. They are producers of direct shipping
ore and ore that has to be treated, and for the latter they have two con-
centrating plants and one drying plant. All of these mines are mined by
the open pit method except for small tonnage boardering on the open pits.
The firm of Butler Brothers is composed of Walter Butler, the pres-
ident, and John, William, Cooley and Emmett Butler. Their headquarters
are at St. Paul, Minnesota. These brothers have always been progressive
and among the first to adopt improved methods. John Butler claims that
the remarkable success of the firm is due to the efforts of no single mem-
ber, but to the concerted action of them all, each one having his special
duties which he performs efficiently and with the idea of working in entire
harmony with his associates. Another one of the brothers. Pierce Butler,
is an eminent attorney of St. Paul, and all of them are exceptionally gifted
in their several lines.
In 1892 John Butler was married to Margaret McGran, of Belleplaine,
Minnesota, who is of Irish parentage. They have no children. In relig-
ion he is a Catholic. During the great war Mr. Butler took part in the
various drives in behalf of the Liberty Loans, and in every possible way,
as always, proved his worth as a man and citizen. No history of this
region would be complete without mention of the activities of this repre-
sentative firm. Through the energies and dependability of the partners
some of the most important mines have been stripped and operated, af-
fording employment for thousands, and releasing for use in different
industries ore that is so much needed in order to keep abreast of the
changing times. Their operations are conducted upon a scale that is
gigantic, and yet the affairs are managed with precision and accuracy
which insure prompt and accurate compliance to the terms of the contract
as signed. The name of Butler Brothers has therefore come to stand
for all that is reliable and efficient in the field in which this firm has held
so commanding a position for many years, and w'hen an agreement is
entered into with them the other party to it knows that he need take no
further thought relative to the work, for he realizes that it will be well
performed within the stated period.
Bert M. Conklin. Educated as a mining engineer, Bert M. Conklin
came to the Minnesota Iron Ranges sixteen years ago, and as technical
man and operating executive has filled many posts over the district. He
is now chief engineer of the Arthur Iron Mining Company. This com-
pany is the operating organization for handling the Great Northern iron
ore properties on the Mesaba Range.
Mr. Conklin was born at Wichita, Kansas, November 10, 1881, a son
of Charles W. and Cornelia (Morse) Conklin. His father served as a
first lieutenant in the Union army during the Civil war, and for a time
was on the staff of General Thomas. For many years he lived at Wichita,
Kansas, and finally went to East Troy, Wisconsin, where he died in 1915.
Of a family of seven children only three sons are now living, including
Bert M., who grew to manhood in Wisconsin and attended public schools
and graduated from the East Division High School of Milwaukee. In
1901 he entered the University of Wisconsin, and for three years special-
ized as a student in metallurgy and mining. On leaving the university he
came to Minnesota in 1904 and his first employment was as a rod man
r
i
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1011
with the Ohver Iron Mining Company at Hibbing. Successively for about
a year he was engineer in charge of the Burt-Poole Mine, was engineer in
charge of the Burt-Poole, Sellers and Morris Mines for some twelve
months, then became night foreman of the Morris Pit, for about eighteen
months was night foreman at the Hull-Rust Mine, was day foreman of
the Rust Pit, and in the spring of 1911 first became identified with the
Great Northern Iron Ore properties as chief inspector of the Western
District. In 1913 these iron ore properties were constituted as an inde-
pendent industry, and at that stage Mr. Conklin was made district super-
intendent. In 1917 he was made district superintendent of the Interstate
Iron Company in charge of the Hill Annex and Mississippi Mines, but in
November, 1917, took charge of the interests of the Great Northern Iron
Ore properties as chief engineer for the Arthur Iron Mining Company.
Mr. Conklin is widely known among the mining engineers of northern
Minnesota, is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers
and the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota. He belongs to the
Algonquin and Kiwanis Ckibs of Hibbing, and is a Scottish Rite Mason.
September 22, 1906, he married Miss Frances Mae Alees, of Milwaukee.
Their three children are John Bert, Charles Lewis and Elen Elizabeth".
Clark Fisk Corey is a practical all around business man, has been a
resident of Hibbing nearly twenty years, and while his interests have not
been primarily associated with the great mining industry he has entered
actively Into the commercial afifairs of the village in the real estate and
general insurance business, which he still carries on.
Mr. Corey was born at Montpelier, Vermont, March 17, 1872, son of
Russell A. and Lavinia (Fisk) Corey. His father was a Vermont farmer
until 1888, when he moved with his family to Nebraska and was engaged
in milling and later in the lumber business at Elwood, where he died in
1892. His widow has survived him nearly thirty years and is now living
in Vermont.
One of a family of four sons, all of whom are still living, Clark Fisk
Corey grew up in Montpelier, Vermont, graduated from the high school
there in 1888 and then accompanied his parents to Nebraska. He gradu-
ated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1894 with the A. B.
degree, and as a young college man found his first opportunities in the
banking business at LaCygne, Kansas, where for six years he was asso-
ciated with an uncle. Later he was chief clerk in the National Bank of
Commerce at Kansas City, Missouri, but in 1900 moved to Superior,
Wisconsin, where he had an interest with his three brothers in the retail
lumber business. In order to view the industries of the Range country he
came to northern Minnesota in 1901 and in the same fall located at Hib-
bing. Here for a time he was employed in looking after the business
interests of Mr. A. M. Chisholm, and this business association led to his
meeting in the same fall Miss Winnifred Cummings, sister of Mr. Chis-
holm. On November 10, 1902, they were married. Mr. Corey has been
a resident of Hibbing since 1901. During 1902 he was general ofiice man
for the local branch of Pickands, Mather & Company, but in 1903
engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and still continues in
that line, with offices in the First National Bank of Hibbing. Mr. Corey
is a member of the Algonquin, Commercial and Kiwanis Clubs, is a
charter member and a past master of Mesaba Lodge No. 255, A. F. and
A. M., and has attained eighteen degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry. Mr.
and Mrs. Corey have one son, Clark Fisk, Jr.
Frank L. Magie. During his service as sherifif of St. Louis County
Frank L. Magie has handled many important and arduous responsibilities
Vol. Ill — 6
1012 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
in a manner creditable to himself and justifying the confidence of that
majority of citizens who chose him for this position.
Mr. Magie, who has long been well known in public and business
affairs at Duluth, was born at Chicago, Illinois, December 23, 1864, a son
of William and Eunice Magie. His father, a native of New Jersey, went
to Illinois early in life, for a time was a farmer, and then removed to
Chicago, where he was in the wholesale broom corn business. He spent
his last years at Pittsburg, Kansas, and served as a member of the Kan-
sas Legislature. He was a man of broad information and always enjoyed
the confidence of the community in which he lived.
Youngest of eight children, Frank L. Magie acquired his early educa-
tion in the public schools of Illinois and Kansas, and also attended school
at New Jersey. While in Kansas he had some experience in the cattle and
livestock business, and soon after coming to Duluth was appointed deputy
sheriff, an ofifice he filled for twenty years and thus exercised many of the
responsibilities which he has today. He first became a candidate for
sheriff in 1914, being defeated by a small margin. The following four
years he looked after some varied interests and in 1918 again became a
candidate and was elected. He has a large circle of friends all over the
county, though his home for many years has been in the city of Duluth.
Mr. Magie is a Republican in politics and is a thirty-second degree
Scottish Rite Mason and an Elk. He married Miss Gaskill, and of the
four children born to their marriage two sons and one daughter are still
living.
Henry Fugere. Of the qualities of constructive citizenship and busi-
ness energy Henry Fugere has supplied a large share to the community
of Chisholm practically from the beginning of that village, and has been
a well known resident of the Range country of northern Minnesota for
the past twenty-three years.
Mr. Fugere was born at New Brunswick, Canada, October 26, 1868.
His father and grandfather were natives of eastern Canada, his grand-
father born in Nova Scotia of direct French ancestry. Boni Fugere,
father of the Chisholm business man, was born in New Brunswick and is
still living in that Province at the age of ninety-two. During his active
life he followed the trade of ship carpenter. He married Louise La Blanc,
and in their large family of thirteen children Henry was the fifth.
Henry Fugere spent his life on a farm in eastern Canada until he was
nmeteen, and had such advantages as were supplied by the common
schools. On leaving home he went to Ottawa, and the following six
months worked in the lumber woods about two hundred miles from that
city. Coming then to the United States, he began an apprenticeship at the
carpenter's trade at Saginaw, Michigan, remained there two years, then
for a season or two was a ship's wheelman on the Great Lakes, and lived
a year at Alpena, Michigan, employed as a carpenter during the summer
and in the lumber camps in winter. Mr. Fugere came to Duluth in 1892.
After eighteen months of work as a carpenter in the city he lived for two
years at Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and in 1897 came to the Ranges, living
for a year and employed as a carpenter at Hibbing, and then going to
Eveleth, where he was associated with Al Bergeron in the building and
contracting business. Mr. Fugere moved to Chisholm in 1901, and with
that town as his headquarters has been engaged in an extensive business
as a carpenter and contractor ever since. He was also conducting a lum-
ber yard, which was destroyed by the conflagration that practically wiped
out the town in 1908. He was one of the leading volunteer firemen in
that holocaust. In fact Mr. Fugere has borne a large share of public
responsibihties at Chisholm ever since coming here. When he arrived on
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1013
the scene Chisholm consisted of three shacks, and he has hterally and
figuratively been one of th'e constructive men in the community ever since.
He took out his first naturaHzation papers in 1892, and has been a full-
fledged American citizen since 1902. He is a Republican, has served as a
justice of the peace, as a member of the School Board, and in 1914 was
elected president of the village of Chisholm.
In 1904 he married Miss Annie Moran. Their eight children are
named Evelyn, Boni, Joy, Cecile, Isabel, Marie, Louis and Dorine.
George Hubert Alexander from the time he left high school has
been identified with the lumber industry, at first at Duluth but for a
number of years at Hibbing, where he organized and is president of the
Mesaba Lumber and Supply Company.
Mr. Alexander was born at Oconto, Wisconsin, February 20, 1888, a
son of William H. and Catharine (Good) Alexander. His parents lived
for many years at Oconto, where his father was engaged in lumbering,
but since 1891 they have made their home at Duluth.
George Hubert Alexander v^'as three years old when he became a resi-
ident of Duluth, and acquired a grammar and high school education in
that city, graduating from high school with the class of 1907. Soon
afterward he was on duty as a timekeeper and scaler for the lumber firm
of Swallow & Hopkins at Winton, Minnesota. Later he was with the
Radford & Unight Lumber Company of Duluth, and in 1911 came to
Hibbing as an employe of the Hibbing Lumber Company. He remained
with that concern until 1916, when he engaged his own capital and ability
and the capital of his associates in the organization of the Mesaba Lumber
Company and has given that business a substantial place among the com-
mercial institutions of Hibbing.
Mr. Alexander has shown a public spirited attitude toward everything
affecting the growth and prosperity of his community. He is a director of
the Commercial Club, a member of the Kiwanis Club, is a Republican,
belongs to the Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks. January 22, 1913, he married Miss Josephine
E. Achterkirch, of Faribault, Minnesota. Their two children are William
Andrew and Elizabeth Ann.
Barney J. Med.\lie. Financial independence combined with public
esteem are worth great effort to right-minded men wherever they may be
found. To attain these America has offered opportunity, and sons of
other lands who have come to this country and accepted responsibilities
together with privileges are numbered with every community's best citi-
zens. Minnesota has attracted virile men from many countries of the
earth, and among those from far off Russia attention may be called to
Barney J. Medalie, who is a solid business man and highly respected citi-
zen of the prosperous village of Buhl.
The story of Barney J. Medalie is exceedingly interesting, illustrating
as it does the determination and resourcefulness of his character and the
stable elements whereby he has successfully built up a large business and
■ secured the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been associ-
ated. He was born September 14, 1881, in Lithuania, a Baltic province,
the second of a family of six children borij to Jacob and Bertha (Gluck-
man) Medalie. Both parents were born in Russia and were of Jewish
extraction. His mother survives but his father has passed away. The
latter was a highly educated man, a teacher by profession.
Barney J. Medalie was carefully educated and had private tutors who
mstructed him in four languages, but by the time he was sixteen years of
age circumstances had arisen that changed the family prospects and re-
1014 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
suited in his venturing far from his native province. He sailed to Johan-
nesburg, British South Africa, arriving there just at the outbreak of the
Boer war. Refugees were flocking to Cape Town, and Mr. Medahe
thought it best to accompany them. There he entered a school in order
to learn English, his former instruction in languages not including this
tongue, and was placed in the third grade, where he applied himself so dili-
gently that within three weeks he was promoted to the fifth grade. Feel-
ing that he was not making sufificiently rapid headway and with good
judgment far beyond his years he secured employment in an English res-
taurant as a waiter, where he remained for seven months, then found a
position as wine steward in the City Club, in which capacity he served for
ten months. In 1902 he became a naturalized English subject, immedi-
ately aker which he was given a permit to return to Johannesburg. There
he remained for two years conducting a candy and drink store, then
opened a general store eight miles out of the city. After two years he
left his brother, M. A. Medalie, in charge of that store and returned to
Lithuania to visit his parents.
It was w-hile he was in his old home that Mr. Medalie received a letter
from his LTncle Sapero, who was established in the village of Chisholm,
Minnesota, urging him to join him in the United States, and this invita-
tion and encouragement led Mr. Medalie to change his earlier plans and
come to America. He reached Chisholm, Minnesota, in 1911, and shortly
afterward opened a candy store at Gilbert, where the waiting station for
the Mesaba electric road now stands, for which road he was made the
first agent. He carried on business there for four years, then sold out
advantageously and went to the eastern seaboard and remained in Phila-
delphia for ten months. In the meanwhile M. A. Medalie had also come
to the United States, and he and Mr. Sapero had opened a dry goods
store at Buhl, Minnesota, and on returning from Pennsylvania Barney J.
Medalie bought his uncle's interest in this business. In February, 1918,
the brothers bought a grocery store, then removed their dry goods store
to the building adjoining the grocery, made other changes and improve-
ments and now have the largest and leading department store at Buhl.
They have wide patronage and enjoy the reputation of being thoroughly
dependable business men.
On October 3. 1911, Mr. Medalie was married to Sarah Klaff, who
was born in Russia, of Jewish parentage. She and Mr. Medalie were
attached friends in Russia, and after feeling himself well established in
business he sent for her to join him and they married in Delaware. They
have two children : Vivian Constance, aged six years ; and Ethel Beatrice,
aged four years. Mr. Medalie and his family are of the Orthodox Jewish
faith. When he came to the United States he brought a younger brother
with him and placed him in school at Buhl, and four years later, when the
youth was through high school, sent him to the U^niversity of Minnesota,
where he was graduated from the dental department and is now in active
practice at Buhl. Aside from commendable actions of personal nature,
much praise must be accorded Mr. Medalie for many exhibitions of char-
ity and benevolence in a general way. During the World war he was
indefatigable in his efforts to assist all patriotic movements. In 1916 he
became a naturalized .\merican citizen, and in his political attitudes a Dem-
ocrat. He belongs to the Hebrew organization of B'nai B'rith. both at
Hibbing and Chisholm, and is a member and past commander of lodge
No. 232 of the Odd Fellows at Buhl.
David Tristram Collins. An important share of the legal business
originating at Hibbing has been handled by David Tristram Collins, one
of the older members of the local bar and one of the ablest attorneys in
St. Louis County.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1015
Mr. Collins represents an old and prominent American family, tracing
his ancestry back to Benjamin Collins, who came from England and estab-
lished a home at Salisbury, Massachusetts, about 1660. Benjamin Collins
married Martha Eaton. The second generation was represented by John
Collins, who married EHzabeth Barnard; the third by Benjamin Colhns,
who married Mary Jones; the fourth by Tristram Collins, who married
Rachel Hunt ; the fifth by Henry Collins, who married Sarah Kelley ; the
sixth by Tristram Collins, who married Emilia Severance ; the seventh by
Josiah Norris Collins, who married Frances Jane Kent; while David
IVistram ColHns, the Hibbing lawyer, is of the eighth generation. The
second Tristram Collins moved west to Wisconsin, was a farmer and car-
penter and died at Wautoma in 1889. This family has produced many
individuals in successive generations of honest, law-abiding people, loyal
Americans, and on the whole each a credit to their community. Some of
the more notable members of different generations were Governor John
Collins, of Connecticut ; Gilbert Collins, of the Supreme Court of New
Jersey ; Loren W. Collins, of the Supreme Bench of Minnesota ; Judge
Loren C. Collins, of Chicago, and several who became eminent physicians
and surgeons.
David Tristram Collins was born at Menasha, Wisconsin, January 6,
1879, being one of the five children, all living but one, of Josiah N. and
Frances Jane (Kent) Collins. His father was born in New Hampshire
and his mother in New York state of English stock. Josiah N. Collins
was a chair manufacturer in the great wood working city of Menasha,
Wisconsin, subsequently conducted a hotel at Florence, Wisconsin, for
two years was in the contracting business at Kaukauna, Wisconsin, and
in 1887 moved to Gladstone, Michigan, then a village in the woods of the
Northern Peninsula of Michigan, and continued contracting until his
death in 1904.
David Tristram Collins spent his early life in the several towns of
Wisconsin and Michigan where his father lived, acquired a good educa-
tion in public schools, and during summer vacations worked as an office
boy for Daniel Willard, then trainmaster and assistant superintendent of
the Soo Line Railway. Daniel Willard in subsequent years became one
of America's foremost railway executives, and is now president of the
Baltimore & Ohio system. Through the influence of Mr. Willard young
Collins was led to expend his efforts toward a better education and gradu-
ally abandoned his first ambitions for a railroading career. In 1899 he
removed to Minneapolis, where he began reading law with the firm of
Nye & Deutsch. In 1900 he enrolled in the law school of the University
of Minnesota, and continued his studies until admitted to the bar in 1903.
While in the University Law School he had some special opportunities for
practical training in the law ofifice of Keith, Evans, Thompson & Fair-
child at Minneapolis, and after admission to the bar continued with that
firm until September, 1904. Mr. Collins then took up the private practice
of his profession at East Grank Forks, Minnesota, and remained there five
years, four and a half years of that time as city attorney.
In February, 1909, Mr. Collins removed to Hibbing and since the first
of March of that year has been busily engaged in an extensive practice.
Much of his time has been devoted to his engagements as an attorney for
the Oliver Iron Mining Company and other corporations, and he has
handled many of the real estate deals whereby the village of Hibbing is
being gradually moved to make way for the mining operations under the
original village site.
During the World war he served as food administrator for the Hib-
bing District and was also one of the Four Minute Men speakers and
assistant chief of the American Protective League at Hibbing. Governor
1016 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Burnquist appointed him a member of the Free Legal Aid Board of the
Hibbing District. He is a Republican in politics, is a Scottish Rite Mason,
a Shriner, was worshipful master in 1920 of Mesaba Lodge No. 255, A. F.
and A. M., and is also affiliated with the order of Elks. His church
membership is with the Congregational Society.
July 14 1908, Mr. Collins married Jennie M. Myers, of Virginia,
Minnesota.' At her death, June 9, 1913, she left one son, named James
Norris CoUins. On May 4, 1918, Mr. Collins married Hazel A. Rawson,
of Portage, Wisconsin.
W. N. Hart, president of the Kelley Duluth Company, has had forty-
odd years of experience quaHfying him for his present responsibihties.
His personal experience has taken him through the many details of a
manufacturer, office and salesman in some of the large wholesale arid
retail houses, as a traveling salesman, and for a number of years past in
general control of one of the firms that have made the Duluth wholesale
and retail district known all over the northwest.
Mr. Hart was born at Green Bay, Wisconsin," December 31, 1862. His
father, A. Hart, a native of Connecticut, was a cabinet maker in early Hfe,
but on going to Green Bay in the early days before the railroad reached
there, turned his attention to the building and operating of sail and
steamboats. Youngest of six children, W. N. Hart was educated in the
public schools of Green Bay, and up to the time of his father's death,
which occurred in 1881, spent his spare time preparing for a position as a
lake captain. His father's death changed this, as in order to be with his
mother, of whom he was then the sole support, he entered the employ of
a hardware firm at Green Bay owned by a Mr. J. J. St. Louis, where he
remained for seven years, going from there to the larger concern of W. D,
Cooke, who operated both wholesale and retail. Here he represented the
firm on the road a larger part of the following nine years.
Removing to Chicago, he became a traveling salesman for a prominent
wholesale hardware house of that city, but in 1897 returned to Green Bay
and with a salesman from a Milwaukee jobbing house established a whole-
sale jobbing house in that city which later was re-organized as the pres-
ent Morley-Murphy Hardware Company.
In 1904 Mr. Hart came to Duluth as the first salesmanager for the
Kelley-How-Thomson Company, leaving there in 1909 to take charge of
the Kelley Hardware Company, now known as the Kelley Duluth Com-
pany.
Mr. Hart is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of
the Commercial Club, the Duluth Boat Club, the Duluth Curling Club and
for several years has served as a trustee of the Pilgrim Congregational
Church. Mr. Hart is married and has a family of two sons and two
daughters.
Robert Murray. As an organization of capital, equipment and ex-
pert personnel, Pickands, Mather & Company, while primarily a Cleveland
concern, is a business organization of national reputation and for many
years as managers, owners and operators of iron ore properties have been
vitally identified with the iron ranges of northern Minnesota and Michi-
gan. The general superintendent of the Central District for this com-
pany on the Mesaba Range is Robert Murray. Mr. Murray acquired his
first acquaintance with the Mesaba Range thirty years ago, and is one of
the practical experts on the stafif of Pickands. Mather & Company.
He was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan, October 18, 1868. His
father. Robert Murray, was born and reared in Scotland, acquired a prac-
tical mining experience in his native country, and then came to Canada
itA:;^^^
iJlf'
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1017
and was employed in the Bruce Mines near Sault Ste. Marie in the Prov-
ince of Ontario. He married there Mary Mclntyre, also a native of Scot-
land, and on coming to the United States lived in the copper country of
Michigan for a time, then on the iron ranges at Negaunee, and worked in
the old rolling mill at that place. During the winter of 1874-75 he was in
the copper mines on Isle Royal, Michigan, later in Houghton County,
Michigan, and became widely known all over the mining districts of that
state. He died in 1902 and his wife in 1915.
One of live children, three of whom are still living, Robert Murray,
Jr., grew up in various communities where the family residence was main-
tained according to the occupations and the interests of his father. He
acquired some of his early education at Isle Royal, and graduated from
the Lake Linden High School at Lake Linden, Michigan, in 1889. It was
in the spring of 1890 that Mr. Murray first came to the Mesaba Range.
For a few months he worked on the diamond drill for E. J. Longyear,
and then with two other companions crossed the Range from St. Louis
River Station on the Duluth & Iron River Railroad to Grand Rapids. Not
long afterward he returned to northern Michigan and entered the Michi-
gan College of Mines at Houghton. He pursued the regular technical
course in that institution, was graduated in 1895, and then took up his
professional career as a mining engineer and chemist for the Loretto Iron
Company at Loretto, Michigan. Subsequently he was mining engineer for
the Menominee Exploration Company at Crystal Falls, Michigan. The
Menominee Company was a subsidiary corporation of the Pickands,
Mather & Company, and thus for over twenty years Mr. Murray has been
identified with that corporation. In December, 1899, the same company
sent him to Michipicoten, Canada, as superintendent of exploration and
diamond drill work. His services for several years required a wide range
of travel and service at various points in the United States and Canada.
For a time he was engaged in the exploration of the Dog River mining
claims in Canada. During 1902 his ofificial duties brought him to the
Mesaba Range and northern Minnesota, and since 1904 his home and
headquarters have been at Hibbing. His first duties in this district were
as superintendent of the Albany and Utica Mines operated by the Crete
Mining Company, another subsidiary of Pickands, Mather & Company.
In 1910, when the Scranton Mine was started, general offices were
located at the latter plant, and about that time Mr. Murray was appointed
general superintendent of the Central District for the company, in active
charge of the Scranton Mine.
Mr. Murray is a member of the Lake Superior Institute of Mining
Engineers. He is a member of the Algonquin Club of Hibbing, has at-
tained the eighteenth degree of Scottish Rite Masonry and is a Republican
voter. June 29, 1903, he married Miss Gertrude E. Buttinger, of Esca-
naba, Michigan. Their family of seven children are Robert, Helen,
Clayton, Katherine, John, Ann and James.
Simon Sapero. The community of Chisholm had hardly begun to
take form as an adjunct of local mining activities and no village charter
had yet been granted when Simon Sapero identified himself with the
locality. He is one of Chisholm's oldest citizens, a veteran merchant, and
has given the benefit of his wise counsel and leadership in times of pros-
perity and in times of stress. He was born in Wekschne, Russia, Septem-
ber 10, 1865, and grew up in his native country, acquiring a public school
education. By the time he was nineteen he had reached the conclusion
that Russia offered him no future. He was looking for a country where
worth might achieve equality with his fellowmen, where he could establish
a home and rear a family and know that opportunities would not be
1018 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
denied them in advance. There was only one logical choice to make and
that was immigration to the United States.
For about four years after coming to America he lived m Maryland,
and as a peddler acquired a knowledge of the English language and
adapted himself to the customs and institutions of the New World. His
next home was in Chicago, where for about ten years he employed his
energies chiefly in wholesale houses and laid a sound foundation of
commercial experience. While there he took out naturalization papers.
Mr. Sapero came to the Iron Range district of northern Minnesota in
1900. His first residence was in Virginia, where he entered the furniture
and hardware business. About a month later occurred a conflagration
which destroyed the village and his store, stock and other possessions.
With that misfortune he did not despair, though it was necessary to begin
all over again. Therefore in 1901, the year that saw the official birth
of Chisholm, he moved to that town and built the first building on Main
street. Just seven years later his business property, valued at over twelve
thousand dollars, was again destroyed in the fire that left hardly a trace
of Chisholm. But he was one of the first to return and begin the task
of rebuilding, and both before and since that fire he has been one of
Chisholm's sturdiest and most resourceful citizens and has not only pros-
pered as a merchant but has borne his full share of responsibilities in
connection with community advancement. Besides his dry goods and
general merchandise establishment at Chisholm he has a branch estab-
lishment at Thief River Falls and another at Hibbing. Mr. Sapero
removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in April, 1921, and resides at Oak
Grove Hotel. He is associated with the Northern State Bank in that
city, and is now managing the insurance department of this bank, but
still retains his interests in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Mr. Sapero has never sought public office though deeply interested in
all matters afifecting the local welfare. He was active during the World
war in promoting the sale of Liberty Bonds, Red Cross drives and relief
work. He was one of the local citizens to start the building of the Je\vish
Synagogue, and for eight years was president of that organization.
Mr. Sapero is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a rnember of
the Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is active in the
Commercial Club.
In 1888, in Baltimore, Maryland, he married Miss Rosa Rabinowitz.
Eight children have been born to their marriage : Moses, Abraham, Mary,
Esther, Sol, Molly, Hazel and Harlan. Mary is the wife of J. E. Brill,
a well known Minneapolis attorney. The daughter Esther is the wife
of Max Wain, of Chisholm. The son Sol was a student in the University
of Minnesota during the war and trained with the colors as a member
of the Student Army Training Corps.
WiLLi.^M C. NoRTHEY. Among the men who occupy high and promi-
nent positions in the Iron Range district in northern Minnesota is William
C. Northey, superintendent of the Mahoning Mine of the Mahoning Ore
and Steel Company at Hibbing. Mr. Northey has been a practical mining
man for many years, grew up in the industry, and has been a resident
of northern Minnesota for over twenty years.
He was born at Rockland, Michigan, June 23, 1862, son of William
and Lsabella (MacKee) Northey, of English and Scotch ancestry. His
father was for many years engaged in the mining industry both in the
United States and in Canada. In a family of eight children six are still
living.
William C. Northey at the age of five years accompanied his parents
to Cableton, Quebec, Canada, later to Kingstown, Ontario, where he
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNIT 1019
attended his first school, and then to Crown Point, New York, where
he Hved for twenty years and where he completed his education in the
pubHc schools.
At the age of sixteen Mr. Northey went to work in the iron mines
of the Crown Point Iron Company and later with the Witherbee-Sherman
Company at Mineville, New York, and elsewhere, and during the next
fifteen or twenty years gained practically every experience in the equip-
ment of a full fledged mining man. He came to the Range country of
northern Minnesota in 1898, and was first employed as chief clerk of the
Oliver Iron Mining Company at Mountain Iron. A year later as superin-
tendent for the American Steel and Wire Company he opened the Soun-
try-Alpena Mine at Virginia, but in 1900 was transferred to Hibbing
and as superintendent of the same corporation opened the Clark and
Chisholm Mines. Following that he temporarily abandoned the mining
industry and from 1902 to 1906 was engaged in merchandising at Hibbing.
In 1906 he became chief clerk for the Mahoning Ore & Steel Company,
and has been steadily in the service of that corporation for fifteen years,
and since January 1, 1918, its superintendent at Hibbing.
Mr. Northey has made his influence felt as a citizen in several localities
where he has lived. He was particularly identified with the early develop-
ment of Chisholm, and upon the organization of the village government
was honored by election as the first president of the village. He is a
Republican in politics, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a
Scottish Rite Mason.
On July 26, 1883, Mr. Northey married Miss Carolyn Moore, of
Ogdensburg, New York. Five children were born to their marriage:
Ethel, wife of Rollin N. Dow, of Minneapolis ; Marguerite, who died in
infancy ; Melvin T., who had a record of service with the navy during
the World war; William C, Jr., who died at the age of seven months;
and Thornton M.
Odin A. Sundness, chief chemist for the Shenango Furnace Com-
pany, is a young man with all the requisite qualifications for filling an
important and responsible position, and a citizen of standing in his com-
munity. He was born at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, January 12, 1888, a
son of Nicholas E. and Sophia (Sehm) Sundness. Nicholas E. Sundness
was a native of Norway, where he was reared and educated, and from
which he immigrated in the later 70s to the United States. After his
arrival in this country he took out naturalization papers, and resided here
the remainder of his life, making Minnesota his home and going from
Minneapolis to Fergus Falls after a year's residence in the former city.
Reared at Fergus Falls, Odin A. Sundness was graduated from its
high school course in 1906, and then entered the School of Mines of the
University of Minnesota and there spent three years. Portions of the
years 1907 and 1908 were spent in the mines of Montana and Idaho,
where he obtained a practical knowledge of underground mining. In the
spring of 1909 he came to the Mesaba Range of northern Minnesota and
secured a position with the Oliver Iron Mining Company at Eveleth as
mining engineer, which position he held for two years, when he severed
his connection with the Oliver Iron Mining Company and accepted a
position as mining engineer of the Whiteside Mine at Buhl for the Shen-
ango Furnace Company. In the fall of that same year, he was trans-
ferred to the Shenango Mine at Chisholm, where he conti'nued work as
a mining engineer until July, 1912, at which time he was made chief
chemist in charge of the laboratory, grading department, and all ore ship-
ments, and is still holding this position. In addition to this he was made
chief engineer of this company October 1, 1920. Mr. Sundness is a
1020 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
member of the Engineers Club of Northern Minnesota, and the American
Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. He is a Mason and
a member of the Kiwanis Club of Chisholm. His political convictions
make him a Republican. The Lutheran Church has in him a faithful
member.
On September 15, 1915, Mr. Sundness was united in marriage with
Miss Olive Strand, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and they have one daugh-
ter, Margaret Josephine. While Mr. Sundness has been too much occupied
with his business cares to think of entering the public arena, he takes
an intelHgent interest in civic matters and is deeply interested in the
remarkable expansion of this region, and proud of the fact that he has
been associated with this development.
Archie McDougall has one of the oldest plumbing businesses in
northern Minnesota, and for over thirty years has followed that trade
and profession and has installed a large share of the plumbing, steam
and hot water heating plants in Duluth homes and business buildings.
He was born in Ontario, Canada, a son of Duncan McDougall. His
father was a building contractor, and for thirteen years followed his busi-
ness in North Dakota. Later he was in the same business in Duluth until
1891, and in that year removed to Chicago, where he remained until his
death in 1908.
The fourth child of a family of ten children, Archie McDougall was
educated in Canada and Duluth, he having come to this city in 1882.
At the age of thirteen was working in a sawmill. He also worked on
farms, and in 1888 engaged in the plumbing business at Duluth, a line
he has followed ever since. His shop and offices are at 4033^ East
Superior street. Previous to his entering the plumbing business he was
employed by C. F. Johnson in the stationery business.
Mr. McDougall is affiliated with the Clan Stewart of the Scottish
Clans, and is a Knight of Pythias and Elk. On August 15, 1894, he
married Miss M. D. Curtis.*
Mr. Archie McDougall always took a deep interest in baseball, he
having organized the first uniformed baseball club in Duluth, in 1886,
the team playing clubs from nearby cities and towns, in which great
rivalry existed. The club which Mr. McDougall organized was called
The Zenith City Baseball Club. It was a wonderful success from a play-
ing standpoint. The team was composed of the following players
Hector McDougall, first base; Eddie Connelly, second base; Archie
McDougall, short stop and captain; Will Hall, third base; Frank Hall,
right field; Dan McDougall, center field; Frank Druke, left field; Charles
Mallison, pitcher; and Jack Nefif, catcher. George Hughes, William
McGowan and Frank Nathan were reserves, Mr. McDougall is a member
of the Old Settlers Association.
Eli S, Woolfan went to Hibbing less than a decade after the original
townsite was surveyed, and has been continuously in business there as a
dry goods merchant for seventeen years, and therefore one of the pioneers
in the commercial history of the community.
Mr. Woolfan, whose name has always been associated with public
spirited citizenship, was born in Russia September 15, 1864, son of Wil-
liam and Mary Woolfan. While he had no opportunity to get the equiv-
alent of an American college education, his training was unusually good
and thorough in the old country. At the age of eleven he left home to
attend school at Vilna, where he studied Hebrew, Russian, German and
Polish languages. During his fifteenth year he went to England, and
while working acquired a knowledge of the English tongue.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1021
He was about seventeen when he crossed the Atlantic to Canada,
and for the first year made his home at Montreal. He peddled goods
in and out of that city, and from his earnings assisted his parents and
brothers and sisters to leave Russia and come to Canada. Mr. Woolfan
about 1882 removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and during his residence
of five years in that city acquired his papers as a naturalized American.
He was in the peddling business at Pittsburgh, and on leaving that city
spent five years at St. Paul, at first continuing as a peddler, later as a
tailor, and eventually had a disastrous financial experience in the wood
and coal business. Leaving St. Paul, he was a resident of Superior,
Wisconsin, for about twelve years, and conducted a tailoring and haber-
dashery enterprise. Mr. Woolfan came to Hibbing in the fall of 1902,
but was unable to procure a building and open a stock of dry goods until
February, 1903. His store has been a growing center of trade, and besides
his work as a merchant he has had much to do with the ownership and
development of local real estate. Among other properties he owns four
hundred acres in St. Louis County and is one of the owners of the Mesaba
Addition to Hibbing. This addition is advantageously situated with refer-
ence to the progressive movement of the village to the south to make
way for mining operations.
Mr. Woofan's life has been one of many adversities, but through all
his courage has never wavered and by persistence he has achieved fully
the substance of prosperity. At Superior he lost his first wife, whose
maiden name was Bessie Bloom. She was survived by five children.
The maiden name of his present wife was Etta Ziskin. Mr. Woolfan
has proved himself an American in every sense of the word, and so far
as his ability permitted has contributed to the institutions and the move-
ments for the betterment of the community. In 1902 he was a delegate
to the state convention in Wisconsin. For three years he served as a
member of the Hibbing Board of Health and is now a justice of the
peace. He is a Republican, is a past chancellor commander of the Knights
of Pythias, a member of the B'nai B'rith, and at St. Paul, Superior
and Hibbing helped build churches of his faith. He is now president
of the Jewish congregation at Hibbing and also president of the local
Zionist movement. Mr. Woolfan's children are N. P. ; Belle, wife of
Samuel Siegel ; Abe B. ; Fay, wife of H. L. Nides ; and Emanuel B.
Emanuel B. Woolfan was the first of the Jewish boys to enlist from
Hibbing, serving in the Medical Corps, though his time was all spent
in local camps on this side of the ocean. He is a graduate of Rush
Medical College of Chicago.
Bror Magnusson. It is a revelation of the possibilities of American
life and of individual ambition and enterprise to contrast briefly the begin-
ning and the present status of Bror Magnusson's career in this country.
He arrived here and did his first work in the east as a coachman and
gardener, nearly thirty years ago identified himself with northern Minne-
sota, still in a humble capacity as an employe, but his capabilities have
expanded with his opportunities and there is probably not a better known
business man in the Chisholm district than Bror Magnusson, who is
occupied with extensive farming interests and is also president of the
Chisholm State Bank.
Mr. Magnusson was born February 4, 1867, on his father's farm
about two miles from Jonkoping, State of Smoland, Sweden. His father,
A. J. Magnusson, was born January 1, 1832, at Werstergotland, Sweden,
and lived in that vicinity all his Hfe, until his death in 1907. Farming
and lumbering occupied his time and energies up to the last ten years,
during which period he was a commission merchant. About 1856 he
1022 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
married Miss Christian Charlotte Stomberg, of the same section of
Sweden. She was born February 13, 1836, and died in 1909.
Sixth among eleven cliildren Bror Magnusson acquired a common
school education and spent four years in the high school at Jonkoping.
At the same time he was performing a share in the duties on his father's
farm, and so continued for two years after leaving school, until he was
eighteen. At that date he sailed to Quebec and from Quebec went directly
to Boston, where he spent two years earning a living and acquiring a
knowledge of American language and ways as gardener and coachman
for a private family. Even more extended opportunities were offered him
during the next two years when he was a street car conductor. On
March 29, 1891, Mr. Magnusson left the east for Ely, Minnesota, for the
purpose of joining and assisting his brother-in-law, then cashier of the
bank at Ely. Soon afterward he served a year as clerk in the hardware
store of P. R. Vail, and following that for about a year was grocery
clerk with the firm of Anderson and Korb. The panic of 1893 proved a
depressing influence over all this section, and Mr. Magnusson in the
interval returned to Boston and for three years worked in a vinegar fac-
tory. Then, in 1896, he returned to northern Minnesota and for two
years was again in the employ of Anderson & Korb, following which he
"formed a partnership with Globokar & Pehlgren in the retail grocery
business at Ely. This establishment was sold in 1902, and at that date
Mr. Magnusson identified himself with Chisholm, resuming the retail
grocery business. For two years he had an establishment on Lake street,
and in the meantime invested some of his accumulations in vacant prop-
erty at the corner of Lake and Second avenue, on which he erected a
store building. This was in the path of the devouring flames in the
great fire of September, 1908. Soon after the fire he rebuilt on the site
a fine building, which at the time was one of only two such structures
in the town. This building he leased to the firrn of Lundall & Sons
for five years, and in the meantime he entered the feed and grain busi-
ness, which he continued for three years. He had also acquired a farm
in Balkan township, and improved it with buildings and other facilities,
cleared up the land and put it in cultivation, and after three years as a feed
and grain merchant was prepared to give his entire attention to farming.
Mr. Magnusson has been a banker at Chisholm for the past six years.
He organized in December, 1914, and became president of the Chisholm
State Bank, which opened its doors February 15, 1915. He is still the
executive officer of this substantial institution, which has played a notable
part in the financial life of Chisholm since it was founded. In the fall
of 1915 Mr. Magnusson resumed business as a grocery merchant, but sold
his store in February, 1920, and now divides his time between his farm
and the bank.
Mr. Magnusson acquired naturalization as an American citizen in
1897, and is thoroughly American in fact as well as in name. Politically
he supports the Democratic party and is a member of the Lutheran
Church. In November, 1901, he married Miss Ellen K. Lalin, w^ho was
born February 10, 1876, at Uleaborg, Finland. Their five children are
Magnus, Lellia, Elaine, Arthur and Arline.
William Munro. In the quiet relation of the leading activities of
an eventful life of more than seventy years there is so much to interest
that visitors are apt to linger along under the hospitable roof of William
Munro, one of Chisholm's well known capitalists and retired business
men. For many years he was a prominent figure in mining circles
throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming and Nevada, and in some
mineral sections was one of the pioneers. In public life he is also well
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1023
known, long having been a man of influence in relation to national politics
and the leading questions of the day.
William Munro was born July 25, 1844, seven miles from London,
Ontario, Canada. His parents were Neil and Flora (Hair) Munro,
the former of whom was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, October 1, 1818,
and the latter in 1822. Both emigrated to Canada about 1830 and were
married there in 1839. They had nine children, William being the third
in order of birth. The father was engaged in farming in Ontario until
1848, when he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he continued
to farm until 1852, moving then to Grand Haven, where he engaged in
the lumber business until retiring, his death occurring in 1884. The
mother of Mr. Munro died in 1890.
William Munro had school privileges both at Grand Rapids and Grand
Haven, but from the age of twelve years largely provided for his own
support. His first job was packing shingles in a sawmill, gradually
taking on other responsibilities, and by the time he was twenty-one years
old was thoroughly familiar with sawmill operations. In 1865, in asso-
ciation with a brother, he built a mill seven miles distant from Green Bay,
Wisconsin, which they conducted for ten years, in the meanwhile acquir-
ing other interests, dealing in real estate and operating a hotel and a
general store and additionally had a lease on an iron mine at Ishpeming,
Michigan. They had every reason to be satisfied with their prospects
until the financial panic of 1873 struck the country, and notwithstanding
their strenuous efitbrts during the next five years of business stringency
they lost all their possessions.
In 1880 Mr. Munro went to work as superintendent of a sawmill at
Ogontz Bay, later at Laney and still later at Barronett, Wisconsin, remain-
ing at the last named point for two years. From there he went to Drum-
mond, Wisconsin, where he took a shingle contract for the summer and
later took similar contracts at Eau Claire and Haywood. In 1886 Mr.
Munro was called to Superior to become superintendent of a sawmill, and
resided at Superior for five years, during this time becoming active in civic
affairs and interested in realty.
It was about this time that Mr. Munro went into partnership with
Frank Hibbing, who had been his valued employe at Green Bay, and they
started work in the Garden Lake Iron mine near Ely, Minnesota, but
the venture did not succeed. In 1902, with Mr. Hibbing and eight other
men, he obtained possession of some land which is the present site of
the village of Hibbing and formed an organization known as the Lake
Superior Iron Mining Company. This was a large enterprise and took
time to develop. When other members of the company dispaired of find-
ing workable ore on the tract it was through' Mr. Munro's faith and
perseverance that its presence was finally demonstrated, and furthermore
he insisted that there was iron also at a certain point not far distant
from where the company was operating. Although Mr. Hibbing did
not share in Mr. Munro's opinion, he was induced to go with him and
make the test which resulted in the discovery of the famous Hull Mine.
The company was forced by public financial stringency to sell their inter-
est to the Rockefeller people, Mr. Munro receiving the sum of $20,000
tor his one-tenth interest, which today would probably be worth
$5,000,000.
Following the closing out of this venture Mr. Munro served one year
as purchasing agent for the Webster Manufacturing Company of Supe-
rior. He then returned to the Range and drilled unsuccessfully for ore
on the present site of Nashwauk. He spent six weeks there, and during
this time presided as chairman at the organization of the village. From
there he went to where the village of old Mesaba stands as a prospector
1024 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
for the Niagara Mining Company, but after eight weeks the company
allowed their lease to lapse and Mr. Munro took it, and with D. M. Filben
made an agreement with Mr. Hill, who was financing the experiment, to
receive a two-third interest. He operated the mine for eighteen months
and then sold his interest to Mr. Hill. He then went to Wyoming and
from there to Goldfield, Nevada, arriving there October 1, 1908. He
prospected for gold and silver and with his son, the late Colin Munro,
and two other men took up six claims, all of which they worked. Finding,
however, that this hard life was dangerously affecting his eyesight, Mr.
Munro decided to give up mining and accompanied by his son CoHn
came to Chisholm, where he has been established ever since. With the
assistance of his son Archie he takes care of his investments, including
those left him by his son Colin A., who died December 24, 1919.
Mr. Munro was married at Green Bay October 1, 1867, to Miss Eliza-
beth Athey, who was born in Brown County, Wisconsin, of an old
American family, and the following children were born to them : Colin
A., who was a young man widely known and greatly respected and active
both in business and politics ; William R. ; Charles Neil, who died of
an illness contracted during the Spanish-American war, in which he was
a soldier ; Archie R. ; Wallace M. ; and Flora J., who is deceased.
During the greater part of his life Mr. Munro has been recognized
by his fellow citizens as a leader, his energy and vigor, his foresight and
good judgment impressing every community in which he lived for any
length of time. He was a member of the first Village Council of Superior
and also of the first City Council, of which he was president one year.
He was treasurer of the School Board for two years, being the only
incumbent of that office that ever served without giving bond. In 1904
he was the candidate of the Populist party for Congress and although
defeated made an excellent showing because of his personal popularity.
He has been a student of political questions for many years and in 1896
stumped his congressional district in the interest of Hon. WilHam J.
Bryan. At present he maintains an independent attitude but is keenly
alive to the great questions of the day. Mr. Munro has long been identi-
fied with the order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
GoNZAGUE L. Thouin. A pioneer of the early nineties in the North-
ern Range District of Minnesota, Gonzague L. Thouin is one of Hibbing's
best known and most public spirited citizens, and has had a range of
experience that covers nearly every phase of the industrial and commercial
development of this region.
Mr. Thouin is of French Canadian ancestry, was born in Canada
December 25, 1877, and his parents, Solomon and Elodie Thouin, were
natives of the same country. From Canada the family moved to the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan about 1879, living first on the site of
Marquette and later moving to Crystal Falls. At Crystal Falls Solomon
Thouin conducted a hotel until his death.
Gonzague L. Thouin was next to the youngest in a large family of
thirteen children, seven of whom are still living. He acquired a public
school education and at sixteen was earning his own living as clerk in
a store. Not long afterward, in 1893, he came to the Mesaba Range in
Northern Minnesota, his first home being at Virginia. Early in 1894 he
began as a stripper for the contracting firm of Drake & Stratton, his
first employment being as a brakeman on a stripping or dinky engine,
then as fireman on a steam shovel, as craneman and finally engineer. He
remained with Drake & Stratton in these various grades of responsibilities
until 1907, and during that time helped strip the Biwabik, Stevenson.
^9.^^^^:M'm^
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1025
Morris and Kenney Mines. Since 1909 Mr. Thouin has had his home
at Hibbing. For two years after leaving Drake & Stratton he was
steam shovel engineer for the Stevenson Iron Mining Company, but
on coming to Hibbing he left mining and engaged in the retail hardware
business, and for ten years has been one of the chief merchants of the
village.
A successful business man, he has applied his experience and abilities
to the service of his community. For three years he was on the Water
and Light Board of the village and was one of the men instrumental in
the erection of the present splendid municipal power plant. The power
plant was first put in operation while he was president of the board. Mr.
Thouin is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are active members
of the Catholic Church. April 24, 1908, he married Belle C. Tobin, of
Florence, Wisconsin. The eight children born into their home are Lucile,
Isabelle, James, Louise, Winnifred, Marjorie, Lawrence and Joseph.
John F. Killorin. One of the trail-blazers of St. Louis County,
John F. Killorin, of Duluth, is today the personification of a life well
lived, of energies well directed, of a mind tuned to the harmony of his
surroundings and of a heart which has lost nothing of its warmth and
sympathy in its journey from the hardships of pioneer days to the
affluence of the twentieth century. This vigorous personality, outlined
against the background of the lumber industry since the early days, com-
mands the confidence and respect of as large a following as any
who have helped to redeem the wilderness of this part of the state. He
has built up character as well as fortune, and has supported the substantial
and fundamental processes of civilization.
Mr. Killorin was born July 4, 1850, in Canada. His parents, Thomas
and Mary (Gallagher) Killorin, were born in Ireland and married in
Canada, to which country they came when young, and there rounded out
useful and honorable careers. John F. Killorin received his early educa-
tion in the country schools of Richmond, Ontario, and his boyhood train-
ing was all on the home farm. To the ambitious youth this was not
satisfactory, and his idea and bent was to get out in the great world
and build for himself. Accordingly, in 1868 he came to the United
States, thinking to better his condition, and at Saginaw, Michigan,
became a common laborer at lumbering. He continued working in the
different branches of lumbering in Michigan and Minnesota until 1906.
During this time he also helped to build a logging road in Michigan for
the A. W. Wright Lumber Company. In 1892 he came to St. Louis
County, Minnesota, and for the same company helped build the Swan
River Logging Road from Mississippi to Hibbing, this being the first
road to the latter point. Mr. Killorin helped to operate this road until
1906, when he came permanently to reside at Duluth, which had been
his home on occasion before that time. In 1899 the Swan River Road
was sold to James J. Hill, Mr. Killorin continuing under the new owner-
ship until his final removal to Duluth. In the meantime he had acquired
interests in ti-mbering with the same connection that originally had brought
him to Minnesota, and this interest he has maintained to the present.
He is identified with banking and mining, with the Kelley-How-Thomson
Company, wholesale hardware dealers, and other important matters.
Mr. Killorin has been one of the live men in the development of the
institutions and interests of St. Louis County. He is a member of the
Kitchi Gammi Club, Country Club, Curling Club and Commercial Club.
In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic. His political belief is that of
the Republican party, but his business interests have prevented him from
1026 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
entering actively into public life. He has been a supporter of all worthy
movements, educational, religious, charitable and civic.
In 1880 Mr. Killorin married Miss Carrie Wright, who died in 1894.
In 1898 he married Miss Mary ]\IcHugh, and they have three children:
John F., Bernard and Elizabeth. Mr. Killorin has always taken a deep
interest in boating, Messrs. Killorin and Smith winning the champion-
ship of the world in the paired oared contest that took place during the
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. They also took first
prize in Saratoga that same year and in 1877 defeated all comers in
Detroit. Mr. Killorin takes great pride in his various tokens of victory,
his prizes being very beautiful and worthy of the gFeat victories won.
Lewis Hoff Minor when a young man overcame some unusual diffi-
culties in getting the education he desired and in preparing himself
for a career of usefulness, but since then has achieved a well deserved
success, is a self-made man, and one of the well known business men
of the Iron Range district, being manager of the Dower Lumber Com-
pany at Chisholm.
His grandfather was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and after
serving faithfully during most of the struggle died of disease before
the close of hostilities. Lewis Hoff Minor was born on his father's
rented farm near South English, Iowa. September 12, 1873, son of
jehial and Julia Minor. His early environment was a farm and as
soon as he was old enough his time and services were required in assist-
insf his father. He obtained a countrv school education and later was
able to pay his way during two years of attendance as a student at
Valparaiso University in Indiana.
Following his college education he worked in a saw mill at Rock Island,
Illinois, for one year, then returned to his home near Tipton, Iowa, and
worked on the railroad as a section hand and one year on the farm, and
tlirough the influence of his employer was enticed to go to Wadena, Min-
nesota. This same employer secured for him 120 acres of land, and
having no money this employer secured the entire amount, which was
to be paid on the annual payment plan. Mr. Minor left Tipton, Iowa,
in August, 1898, with fifteen dollars in money and rode to Wadena,
Minnesota, on a bicycle, covering the six hundred miles in seven days.
Not being financially able to return to Tipton in the fall, he entered
the woods for the winter as a lumber jack, with no experience whatever,
and gained knowledge that has been of inestimable value to him during
his many years in the lumber business. He came out of the woods the
following April to help erect some buildings on other lands purchased
by his employer, and two months later entered the employ of the Dower
Lumber Company at Verndale, Minnesota, a small village near Wadena,
as yard man, and served in this capacity for two years.
Sixteen months after his first experience as a land owner Mr. Minor
sold the farm for one thousand dollars cash, more than the original pur-
chase price.. That transaction stimulated and encouraged him to
handle real estate on the side, and since then he has made many success-
ful real estate turnovers.
After two years as a yard man for the Dower Lumber Company at
Verndale he was then promoted to the position of yard manager and
transferred to New York Mills, Minnesota, where he remained for eight
years. At this place he was obliged to learn the Finnish language, as
the settlers were practically all Finnish speaking people, and this knowl-
edge has been a very valuable asset in business since that time.
On September 5, 1908, a great forest fire swept northern Minnesota,
and Chisholm was one of the northern towns that was entirely wiped
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1027
out by this fire. On October 1st, following, Mr. Minor was transferred
to Chisholm, where a new lumber yard was opened by the Dower Lumber
Company, and he assisted in rebuilding the village of ten thousand
inhabitants.
Mr. Minor has been with this one company for twenty-one years.
In appreciation of his faithful and able services the company at the
end of his twentieth year presented him with a thousand dollar stock
certificate and a life insurance policy for a thousand dollars for as
long as he is with them.
A short time after he entered the service of the Dower Lumber
Company Mr. Minor married, on April 4, 1900, Miss Alberta Towne,
of Verndale, Minnesota. Their only child is Harold Douglas, born in
1909. While he was living at New York Mills Mr. Minor served as
village trustee. He has always been keenly interested in politics, and
as a boy made choice of his allegiance with the Republican party, though
his father was a Democrat. Before he was old enough to vote he took
an active part in the Harrison-Cleveland campaign, so much so that his
father was accured by his friends of being disloyal to the Democrats.
Mr. Minor served one year as a member of the Chisholm Board of
Health, and was the first secretary of Hematite Lodge No. 274, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of Lematite Lodge No. 9
in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Albert St. Vincent. In the mining activities that comprise such
a large and important chapter in the industrial history of St. Louis
County members of the St. Vincent family have performed a useful and
frequently conspicuous part for many years. Albert St. Vincent of this
family is a prominent mining engineer, and as one of the operating
officials of the Oliver Iron Mining Company is the present assistant
superintendent of the Hull-Rust, Kerr, Sweeney and Carson Lake
Mines.
Mr. St. Vincent was born at Quinnesec, Michigan, December 30,
1881. His father, Frank St. Vincent, was of French ancestry and was
born in Montreal, Canada, but came to Michigan at the age of six
years. In March, 1884, he went on the Vermillion Range of northern
Minnesota as foreman of the blacksmith shop at Tower. Later he
located at Soudan in St. Louis County and in that locality has maintained
his home for over thirty years and is still active in service as a black-
smith foreman. He married Obeline Vandal, of French parentage.
Albert St. Vincent is the oldest of eight children. He was three
years old when he and his mother and a brother six months old followed
his father to Soudan in September, 1884, and in that mining village he
grew up and acquired his early grade school education. He also attended
a business college two years, and at the age of seventeen became a helper
in the mine blacksmith shop under his father. Subsequently for a few
months he worked in the supply department, was then transferred to
Section Thirty Mine at Ely for the Minnesota Iron Company, next
became timekeeper at Soudan, where he remained four years, and in the
spring of 1903 came to the Mesaba Range as mine clerk for the LaBelle
Mining Company at McKinley. That mine closed down the same sum-
mer, and he found a variety of experience at Cripple Creek, Colorado,
where he was employed as hoisting engineer and in other capacities by
the Golden Cycle Mining Company for four months. His next work
was in Sunrise, Wyoming, where he was a warehouseman for the Colo-
rado Fuel & Iron Company and the Colorado & Wyoming Railroad
Company, remaining in that service two years.
Vol. Ill— 7
1028 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Returning to Minnesota in 1905, Mr. St. Vincent located at Ely and
was timekeeper at the Pioneer and Chandler Mines for the Oliver Iron
Mining Company. In January, 1906, he went to Ironwood, Michigan,
as assistant mining engineer for the Newport Mining Company. In
order to increase his proficiency as a mining man by technical instruc-
tion he entered the Michigan School of Mines at Houghton in Septem-
ber, 1906, and remained with that great institution for one year.
Then in 1907 Mr. St. Vincent came to Hibbing and resumed service
with the Oliver Iron Mining Company as mining engineer. He per-
formed duties in that capacity at all the mines operated by the com-
pany in the Hibbing district. In 1916 be was made assistant chief engi-
neer for the Hibbing district for the Oliver Company, and in April, 1918,
became assistant superintendent, the office he now holds. While assist-
ant chief engineer he performed the original cross section work before
stripping started on the Rust part of the Hull-Rust Mine. He also did
the original cross section and topographical work on the North Uno,
South Uno and Dale Mines up to January 1, 1915. These are Great
Northern iron ore properties, but until the date mentioned were operated
by the Oliver Company, when they were returned to the Great Northern.
Mr. St. Vincent while engineer at these mines had a share in that inter-
esting engineering task involved in the opening of the Carson Lake
Mine. Carson Lake was at that time a real lake, constituting a body
of about eighty acres of water, or approximately three hundred million
gallons. This water was pumped away by two centrifugal pumps in
two months, and as the lake was emptied the material from the strip-
ping operations which were begun on the Kerr Mine some two and a
half miles north was brought down and dumped into the north and west
sides of the lake bottom. This fill involved the transfer of approximately
a million five hundred thousand cubic yards of material. When forty
acres of Carson Lake had been covered with this stripping the Carson
Lake shaft was started and sunk a hundred eighty-seven feet to taconite
and then drifts were started towards the main ore body, and thus mining
operations undertaken in earnest.
Mr. St. Vincent is one of the well known mining officials of northern
Minnesota and for a number of years has had his home at Hibbing.
On December 24, 1907, he married Miss Nelle McClure, of Lansing,
Michigan. Her father, Daniel McClure, was long prominent in Michigan
educational afifairs and politics, serving as county superintendent of
schools and as assistant state superintendent of schools. Mr. and Mrs.
St. Vincent have three sons, Burt McClure, Frank Daniel and William.
Charles Peterson has been one of the busy men in the Range
country of northern Minnesota for about thirty years. He has been
a practical miner, a worker in various capacities with iron mining com-
panies, has been an engineer, a hotel man, and for a number of years
past has been in the hardware business at Chisholm.
Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden January 28, 1871. His father,
Peter Magnus Peterson, was born about 1817 and spent an active life
as a farmer until his death at the age of fifty-five. Of the large family
of twelve children Charles was next to the youngest. Five of them are
still living, three brothers and two sisters, and all are now in America.
Charles Peterson grew up on a farm, lived there to the age of seven-
teen, and after acquiring a common school education put in his time
as a farm worker and also had some experience as a railroad brakeman.
It was in 1888 that he came across the ocean, landing in New York,
and during the first 3 years worked in a saw-milling plant in Penn-
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1029
sylvania. His first work was "jacking logs" and after that "riding car-
riage." After this saw milling experience Mr. Peterson came to Ely,
Minnesota, and worked as a miner in the Chandler Mine for six years.
For another six years he was employed in the Pioneer Mine. From
that he entered the service of the Oliver Iron Mining Company, at first
on a diamond drill and later was engaged for exploration work over
the various properties, spending altogether about four years in this way.
Then followed a service as electrical engineer for the city of Ely in
1907, and about that time he first came to Chisholm, where for six
months he was an electrical driller at one of the mines. Going back
to Ely, he bought the Vermilion Hotel, and was proprietor of that pop-
ular hostelry for seven years.
Mr. Peterson came to Chisholm in 1915 and with his brother Gust
bought out the Johnson Brothers hardware and furnace store and for
the past five years has done a profitable business under the firm name
of Peterson Brothers. Mr. Peterson had not been long in this country
before he applied for his citizenship papers and completed his natural-
ization July 12, 1898. He is independent in politics. He is a Lutheran,
a past grand of Lematite Lodge No. 9 of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 462, is
affiliated with Lodge No. 226 of the Loyal Order of Moose, and is a
member of the Kiwanis Club. October 1, 1902, in Pennsylvania,
Mr. Peterson married Miss Nancy Freberg, who came from Smoland,
Sweden. They have two children, Jennie Irene, born in 1903, and
Carl Elmer, born in 1907.
Peter McHardy. While the first exploration and testing that
marked the first chapter in the history of Hibbing began in 1892, it
was very early in the following year, February 17, 1893, to be exact,
that Peter McHardy identified himself with the locality. One of the
oldest residents, he has made his enterprise a factor in the development
of the community and is proud of its prosperity and in every way pos-
sible has exerted himself for the benefit of his home city.
Mr. McHardy was born in western Ontario May 4, 1868, son of
William and Margaret (Thom) McHardy. His parents came to Can-
ada from the vicinity of Aberdeen, Scotland, and were Canadian farm-
ers. Peter McHardy grew up on the home farm and was educated in the
public schools. In the fall of 1889 he came to northern Michigan, and
for about two years was employed as an ordinary laborer.
Then he came into the Range country of northern Minnesota and
first found employment with the Lake Superior Iron Mines, principally
as a tester. In December, 1893, he helped clear the streets of the pres-
ent village of Hibbing, and later worked as a carpenter on some of the
early buildings in the town. In 1895, more than a quarter of a cen-
tury ago, Mr. McHardy entered the retail lumber, fuel, flour and feed
business, to which he devoted his best energies until October 1, 1910,
when he sold out, and since then has given his attention to real estate
and more particularly of late to practical farming, since in St. Louis
County he owns about eighteen hundred acres, a portion of which is
cleared and under crops.
Mr. McHardy has never been a politician, though he has maintained
a keen interest in the growth, development and material welfare of Hib-
bing. He served one term as township treasurer, several terms as vil-
lage councilman, and in 1906 was elected president of Hibbing, being
one of the first to hold that office. He was reared a Presbyterian and
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
1030 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
On September 1. 1898, Mr. McHardy married Miss Delia Slattery,
of Hibbing. The nine children born to their marriage are Margaret
Ann, George Alexander. Effdor, Delia, James, Chloris. Jean Marie,
Marian and Frances. During the W^orld war Mr. McHardy was a
member of the Stuntz Township War Fund Board. He has had much
to overcome in his eiTorts to make life a success, being hampered by a
lack of education, and has depended upon hard work at all times as the
sure and direct means to achievement. He has gained an honored name
and has the confidence and esteem of his fellow men and has reason to
be proud of his individual participation in the historic destiny of the
Range district of Minnesota.
Edward H. Nelson, M. D. For the past seventeen years Dr. Edward
H. Nelson of Chisholm has been identified with public affairs of the
Mesaba Range country of northern Minnesota, and especially those con-
nected with Chisholm. He is a man of exceptional capabilities in his
profession, is particularly efficient as a public official, and measures up
to the highest standards of citizenship. During the great war he offered
his services to his country, but the authorities decided that owing to
his age he could be more useful if he remained at home and exerted him-
self in behalf of local war work, which he did like the loyal citizen
he is. Genial and capable, a gentleman of the finest type. Doctor Nelson
commands respect and confidence wherever known.
He was born at Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 30, 1875, a son of
Ellef and Ingeberg (x\nderson) Nelson, who were natives of Norway
and Denmark, respectively. The father came to the United States in
1866 and the mother in 1871, and they were married at Faribault, Min-
nesota. He has devoted his life to railroad work, and now, at the age
of seventy-four years, is conductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee and
St. Paul Railroad, and for fifty-four years has been in the service of
this road.
Growing up at Minneapolis, Doctor Nelson was given the advantages
offered by its excellent public schools, where he formed the determination
to study for the medical profession, and with this end in view matric-
ulated in the medical department of the Minnesota State University,
from which he was graduated in 1903, with the degree of Doctor of
Medicine, and then for the subsequent eighteen months served as an
interne at Saint Barnabas Hospital.
In 1904 Doctor Nelson came to Chisholm to enter the service of
the Rood Hospital, and is still connected with it and is also carrying
on a general practice. He belongs to the American Medical Association,
the American Fellowship, an auxiliary of the former, the Minnesota
State and St. Louis County Medical Societies, and the Range Medical
Association. Earlier in his career he made a special study of anesthe-
sia, and while yet an interne an article of his entitled "The Art of
Giving General Anesthesia" appeared in the medical press and attracted
widespread attention and received the approval of the profession. Doctor
Nelson was elected in 1908 a trustee of Chisholm, and was in office
during the period of the great fire, and for twelve years has been a
member of the School Board, of which he is now president. He is a
Republican in politics. In 1910 he was elected president of the village
of Chisholm and re-elected in 1911 and also re-elected in 1918. The
Chisholm Commercial and Kiwanis Clubs hold his membership and bene-
fit by his intelligent stand on public questions and his active interest in
civic affairs. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks, Knights of Pythias
and Masonic Orders.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1031
On July 26, 1905, Doctor Nelson was married to Miss Marie Saucier,
of Osseo, Minnesota, and they have two daughters : Lucille L. and
Marjorie M. Doctor Nelson is a Lutheran and his wife is Roman Cath-
olic. Both as a physician and citizen Doctor Nelson has attained to
the full measure of popular esteem and confidence, and reaches the under-
standing of his fellow citizens directly and surely. He is looked up to
and his advise is sought and followed, and his arguments in behalf of
any movement are convincing in their simplicity and sincerity. He is
a man of high ideals, keen life interests and sound judgment, and has
handled with tact and success a number of difficult problems, while
personally he possesses a charm of manner, culture and a wide range
of intellectual connections.
Arthur O. Wilson. In a career of some twenty years, during
which he has risen from a common laborer to general superintendent of
the Susquehanna Mine of the Rogers-Brown Iron Company, Arthur O.
Wilson has exhibited the earnestness, industry and sound ability that
justify his prominence in mining circles though personally he is very
quiet and unassuming and only his efficiency in his position and the
respect accorded him by his friends and associates betray how thoroughly
he knows his business.
Mr. Wilson was born at Wichita, Kansas, December 1, 1879, son
of George and Anna (Olmstead) Wilson. His parents, now deceased,
were Ohio farmers, and Arthur was one of four children. He grew up
in eastern Ohio, acquired a public school education, and since the age
of twenty has been doing for himself. He came to Hibbing in 1900
and for a time worked as a common laborer in the Mahoning Mine. His
next work was as shipping clerk with the Mahoning Ore & Steel Com-
pany, following which he became transit man, and by close study and
observation perfected himself in all branches of practical mining engi-
neering. In 1911 he was placed as engineer in charge of the Susquehanna
Mine, in 1916 was made superintendent, and since January 1, 1919,-,
has been general superintendent of this large and important property
in the Hibbing district.
Mr. Wilson married Miss Gladys Shaw, of Duluth, in 1918. They
have one daughter, Margaret Ann.
George K. Trask has been a resident of Chisholm since 1908, and
after coming to the village took up and diligently pursued the study of
law, and for the past six years has been earning a fine reputation and
l^erforming some splendid service as a lawyer.
He was born August 11, 1876, at Mountsberg, County Wentworth,
Ontario, son of George and Emily (Mount) Trask. His maternjal
grandfather, John Mount, was a pioneer of Ontario and the town of
Mountsberg was named in his honor. George Trask was a lumberman,
and was engaged in the saw mill business until 1895. He and his wife
are still living at Orillia, Canada.
Reared in Canada, George K. Trask attended the grammar and
high schools of his native county, graduating from the Orillia High
School in 1895, and then for ten and a half years his time and ener-
gies were devoted to the profession of teaching. Four and a half years
of that time he was identified with the schools of his native province,
and afterward was a teacher in Minnesota. He came to this state in
1900 and has been continuously a resident of Minnesota except for two
years at Winnipeg, Manitoba. Soon after coming to Chisholm in 1908
1032 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mr. Trask was made clerk of the Municipal Court, and performed the
duties of that office until 1913.
In 1909 he took up the study of law and pursued the study with
an unremittinjcj diligence in connection with other duties until he was
qualified for the bar. In 1913 he entered the law office of Edward
Freeman of Chisholm, now district judge, and was a student and
assistant in the office of Judge Freeman until admitted to the bar in
1914, and continued with Judge Freeman until 1915. For the past five
years he has practiced alone, and has had a busy career in the law and
in local afifairs.
Mr. Trask served as village attorney from March, 1916, to March,
1919. and from August, 1917, until August, 1920, was a member of
the Chisholm School Board. During the World war he was a member
of the Local Advisory Board and one of the Four-minute Speakers.
He is an independent Republican, served as worshipful master in 1917
of Hematite Lodge No. 274, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is
a member of the Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rite at Hibbing,
was noble grand in 1910 of Lematite Lodge No. 9, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Order of Elks and the Kiwanis
Club. July 17, 1913, Mr. Trask married Elizabeth Tolle, a native of
Minnesota. They have one daughter, Flora Hermine.
John A. Redfern. For more than a quarter of a century a resi-
dent of Hibbing. John A. Redfern is conceded to be one of the best
posted men on iron ore on the Mesaba Range. A practical mining
expert, he has other interests, and was a leader in patriotic measures
at Hibbing during the World war and at all times and under all cir-
cumstances has measured up to the highest standards of good citizen-
ship.
Mr. Redfern was born in Derbyshire, England, October 10, 1867,
and four years later, in 1871, came with his parents. Herbert and
Mary Ann (Wooley) Redfern, to Canada. For ten years the family
home was at Owen Sound in Ontario, where the mother died. Her-
bert Redfern then removed to Negaunee, Michigan, where he was iden-
tified with the mining operations of that section, but for a number
of years past has made his home in British Columbia.
John A. Redfern began life with only a common school education,
and since the age of eighteen his experiences have all been centered
around the mining industry. His first regular duties performed in the
mines were as a "scrammer." Since then he has filled practically every
position in the business save that pertaining to the chemical depart-
ment. He worked as a blacksmith's helper, fired a boiler, ran an
engine, and served as a powder monkey, and in 1886 went to the Goge-
bic Range as timekeeper and shipping clerk at the Aurora Mine, and
later as assistant mining engineer. Returning to Negaunee in 1890,
he was assistant to the superintendent of lands for the Cleveland-
Clififs Iron Company. In 1892 he became superintendent of the Piatt
Mining and Manufacturing Company, and when in 1895 the Penobscot
Mining Company began its explorations on the Mesaba Range Mr. Red-
fern was selected to come to Hibbing as superintendent of explorations
and as such opened the old Penobscot Mine, which was developed under
his direction and eventually sold to the Donora Mining Company.
About the time the Penobscot Mine was transferred Mr. Redfern
became inspector of fees for the Mississippi Land Company, and that
has been the official nature of his duties ever since. For many years
he has been a resident of Hibbing, and is a director of the First National
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1033
Bank of the city. He is financially interested in townsite properties.
During the World war he was chairman of the various Liberty Loan
committees that in every instance succeeded in raising more funds than
the allotment specified. He was also local secretary of the War Activ-
ities Fund, an organization that created a fund of $134,380.60. Mr. Red-
fern is a charter member and a past worshipful master of Mesaba Lodge
No. 255, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, has attained the thirty-
second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry, is a member of the Mystic
Shrine, and belongs to the Algonquin and Kiwanis Clubs. In 1894 he
married Miss Lillian J. Seass, of Negaunee, Michigan. Mrs. Redfern
is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Manne Hedin. While he had a business experience in several dif-
ferent lines in his native country of Sweden and also after coming to
America, Manne Hedin has been chiefly interested as a painting and
decorating contractor and has probably the largest business of its kind
at Chisholm and one of the most extensive on the Iron Range.
Mr. Hedin was born at Soderala, Sweden, February 20, 1879. His
father was born in 1836 and lived to the age of sixty-six. The mother's
maiden name was Maria Katarina Spoere, and she was born in Smo-
land, Sweden, in 1836. Of their large family of twelve children Manne
is the youngest and six are still living.
Manne Hedin was three years of age when his parents moved to
Ostersund, and there he grew to years of maturity. He had a com-
mon school education, spent four years in high school and also served
a complete apprenticeship with his father, who was a painting con-
tractor for the railroad. On leaving home Manne Hedin removed to
Gothenburg and was employed in the office and to some extent as a
traveling representative for a wholesale paper house. That was his
occupation for about six years, and he then continued in the same busi-
ness but with another firm at Malmo, Sweden, for about one year.
When Mr. Hedin came to the United States in 1906 his first service
was with the Everett Piano Company of Boston. He was one of the
experts in the painting and finishing department for the company, and
was a workman in their shops for a year and a half. On leaving Bos-
ton he came to Duluth and entered the service of his brother, T. H. Hedin,
a painting contractor. After four years he left his brother's employ and
for the next two years was a hardwood finisher with the firm of Scott &
Graff Company.
It was in 1913 that Mr.. Heden came to Chisholm. and during the
first year was employed with Gust Anderson, a building contractor.
He and Karl G. Lambert formed a partnership in general painting and
the retail paint business at Second avenue. South. The partnership was
dissolved after a year and since then Mr. Hedin has been in business
for himself and continued at the location on Second avenue, South,
until he moved into his new store on Lake street early in 1920. He
has a well equipped store, carrying all the standard wares and goods
and maintains an excellent organization for painting and decorating.
Mr. Hedin received his second papers as an American citizen Janu-
ary 8, 1915. He is affiliated with Hematite Lodge No. 274, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, Lematite Lodge No. 9 of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of Chisholm Lodge of the
Order of Vasa, the Kiwanis Club, and in religion is a Lutheran. In
North Dakota November 25, 1908, he married Maria Desidefia Lund-
guist, of Loberod, Sweden, where she was born May 23, 1881. They
have one daughter, Dagmar Maria, born February 5, 1910.
1034 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
William P. Mars by virtue of thirty years residence is one of
the older citizens of Dukith. This period has been one of growing
business responsibility and with accumulating interests that make him
one of the foremost men of affairs in the northern part of the state.
As an individual he has worked with organizations and contributed
effectively to the splendid position maintained by Duluth as one of the
great commercial centers of the north.
Mr! Mars was born in Chicago, Illinois, December 17, 1866. a son
of R. \\'. and Fanny J. (Blenkensop) Mars. His father also became
prominently known in Duluth, where he located in 1890. He was a
mechanical engineer by profession, also superintendent of the Mari-
nette Iron Works at West Duluth, and was later connected with the
Marshall Mills Company as a salesman until his death in 1910.
William P. Mars grew up in Chicago, acquired his education in the
public schools there, and came to Duluth in 1890. For three years
he was cashier for the Marinette Iron Works at \\'est Duluth and then
went north on the Range to Virginia City and established the pioneer
mining supply and hardware store. He was the ?rtive head of this
business for five years.
In January, 1898, Mr. Mars became associated with the Marshall
Wells Company as department manager of its railroad and mining
machinery department. He soon acquired a financial interest in the
business and was elected one of the vice presidents and was identified
with that great wholesale hardware concern for twenty-three years.
In 1921 Mr. Mars severed his connection with the Marshall Wells Com-
pany and became one of the organizers of the Meagher-Mars Company
of Duluth. This is an organization making a specialty of the lines
with which Mr. Mars had gained such long familiarity during his con-
nection with the Marshall Wells Company. They are wholesale dealers
in railroad, mining and industrial machinery, and almost from the start
have enjoyed exceptional connections with the trade of the great mining
districts of the north. Mr. Mars is one of the principal stockholders
and is vice president and treasurer of the company.
In April, 1889, he married Miss Leonora J. Prescott, of Marinette,
Wisconsin, daughter of Sumner J. and Florence (Bullock) Prescott.
Mr. and Mrs. Mars have four children: Robert Sumner; Florence, wife
of Allison Walker ; William Phillip and Richard Prescott. Mr. Mars
is popular in social affairs at Duluth. is affiliated with all the local
branches of Masonry, and is a member of the Northland Country Club,
the Commercial Qub and the Kitchi Gammi Club.
Mike S.\lmixex. A Hibbing business man who began his career
in comparative obscurity and has achieved for himself a dignified suc-
cess and a position of high regard in his community, Mike Salminen
is owner of the Merchants Warehouse Company of Hibbing, and has
been a resident of that village for over twenty years.
He was born in Finland November 26. 1870. He grew up and
acquired a common school education in his native country. In 1887.
when he was seventeen years of age, he came with his parents, Thomas
and Serafina (Holt) Salminen. to the United States. The family located
at New York Mills. Minnesota, where Thomas Salminen took out natu-
ralization papers and began his career on a homestead. In recent years
Thomas Salminen and wife left the old Minnesota farm and removed
to Ashburn. Massachusetts, where he died in 1920 and where his widow
is still living.
^^Ua^i^c^ C^ 7?7^'i^^
DULUTH AND ST, LOUIS COUNTY 1035
All of their seven children are living today. Mike Salminen came to
manhood at New York Mills, had his early business training there, and
in 1899 came to Hibbing, when the town was new, and opened a gro-
cery and meat market on Pine street. From the beginning he prospered
as the result of hard work, honesty and close application. In this busi-
ness he was associated with John K. Maki, who has been connected
with him for the most part ever since. Under the firm name of Sal-
minen & Maki they operated their original establishment on Pine street
and later established a branch house known as the Cash Market Com-
pany at 709-11 Third avenue. The Pine street store was abandoned
and the partners gave their entire attention to the Cash Market Com-
pany. In 1915 they retired from the general grocery and meat business.
They had in the meantime acquired an interest in the Merchants Ware-
house Company, and then bought the interests of the remaining stock-
holders and continued this business together until 1920, when Mr. Sal-
minen bought out Mr. Maki's interest and is now sole proprietor.
He has other important business connections with Hibbing, being a
director of the Security State Bank and a director of the Hibbing State
Bank at South Hibbing. Mr. Salminen is an active member and treas-
urer of the Finnish Lutheran Church of Hibbing and is a Republican
in politics.
In July, 1894, he married Sanni Maki, sister of his former business
partner. They have four children, Elma E., Werner L., Eino Rudolf
and Irma Lucile. Elma was a teacher in the Hibbing schools for four
years and is now the wife of Dr. George Jarvinen. Werner volunteered
for service in the World war, joining the fighting forces as a private,
but on account of his efficiency in office detail work was transferred
and for over a year was employed in one of the big transfer offices in
France as bookkeeper and stenographer.
William E. Bates, chief engineer of the Chisholm District for the
Oliver Iron Mining Company, is a typical representative of the kind
of man the big Range corporations demand for their high official posi-
tions, and in his work is setting a pace and raising a standard hard to
equal and impossible to excel. He was born in Boone County, Illinois,
December 10, 1879, and when he was two years old his parents, Ben-
jamin A. and Esther (Norris) Bates, moved to Butler County, Iowa,
where they lived on a farm until 1896. In that year removal was made
to Mason City. Iowa, and there he had better educational opportunities,
of which he took advantage and was graduated from the high school
course in 1898.
For four years succeeding his graduation Mr. Bates worked as a
clerk and stenographer, a portion of that time being vv^th the Chicago
& Northwestern Railroad, and the remaining period was with a law
firm. He then entered the civil engineering department of the State
University of Wisconsin at Madison, and was graduated therefrom in
1906, and immediately thereafter came to the Mesaba Range in north-
ern Minnesota and became an engineer at the Clark Mine for the Oliver
Iron Mining Company. Subsequently he filled dififerent positions, work-
ing as engineer at the Hull-Rust Mine, assistant to the chief engineer
of the Chisholm District, following which he was lor a short time
engaged in doing topographical work. Entering the offices of the Oliver
Iron Mining Company at Hibbing, he remained there until February,
1909, when he was sent to Mount Iron as assistant to the chief engi-
neer, and he was also at Virginia, Minnesota. During all of this period
Mr. Bates was acquiring that practical experience through actual oper-
1036 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
ation which is so necessary in his profession, and in 1910 his superiors
were so convinced of his fitness for this class of work that they made
him chief engineer of the Chisholm District, a rather remarkable pro-
motion for a young man, but subsequent events proved the wisdom of
the selection.
On July 31. 1916, Mr. Bates was united in marriage with Agnes
Ruehle, of Stillwater, Minnesota. Mrs. Bates is a member of the Epis-
copal Church. Mr. Bates is not only prominent in professional circles,
but has attained to distinction along other lines. A stalwart Repub-
lican, he was elected on his party ticket in 1914 as a member of the
board of Balkan township, and still holds the office, and during all of
his membership has served the board as chairman. For the past couple
of years he has been president of the Chisholm Chamber of Commerce
and has taken an active part in promoting the civic welfare of his com-
munity. Well known in Masonry, Mr. Bates was worshipful master
of Hematite Lodge No. 274, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and
he is a thirty-second degree z*\ncient Accepted Scottish Rite Mason and
a member of the Mystic Shrine. The Kiwanis Club has in him one of
its most influential and forceful members and in it as in all of the
other organizations with which he is connected he takes a constructive
part.
William John Ryder. One of Hibbing's oldest merchants and
business men, A\'illiam John Ryder is also probably the oldest native son
of Minnesota found in that community.
He was born at Pine City, Minnesota. December 26. 1867, son of
John and Sophia (Schweitzer) Ryder. His mother was a native of
Saxony, Germany. John Ryder was a pioneer of Pine City, Minnesota.
One of a family of nine children. William John Ryder had to con-
tent himself with limited advantages during his youth. He attended
school until he was about twelve or thirteen years of age, his instruction
being chiefly confined to the three R's. He learned cabinet making
and wood carving at St. Paul, and was employed in that line of business
by the Palace Furniture Company in St. Paul from 1886 to 1894. From
1894 to 1900 he was in the furniture business on his own account at
St. Paul, and in May of the latter year came to the village of Hibbing,
only about seven years after the original townsite had been laid out.
Except for a tailoring establishment he opened the first retail store on
Third avenue, at the southeast corner of Third and Center streets.
In October. 1909, the year of the Chisholm fire, Mr. Ryder moved to
his present location, and has continued in business there over ten years.
While never an office seeker, he has accepted a full share of those
responsibilities that are a part of good American citizenship. For the
past three years he has been a member of the Park Commission and is
now chairman of that commission. He was elected president of the
Commercial Club in 1917, and has been at the head of this live organiza-
tion of local citizens for two years. For three years he was also a
member of the Water and Light Commission, retiring as chairman in
1917. Mr. Ryder is a director of the Security State Bank and of the
Hibbing State Bank.
On December 26. 1892. he married Miss Josephine Achenbach, of
Alma, Wisconsin. They are the parents of four children : Ada, wife
of J. E. Capra ; Eleanor, Mrs. Valentine Kuechmeister ; William
John. Jr. ; and Mae.
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1037
James Francis Dacey was a power in Duluth manufacturing circles
for over a quarter of a century. He was founder of one of the city's
most considerable industries, the Gogebic Steam Boiler Works. He
began to learn the boiler maker's trade just fifty years before his death,
and with the skill acquired through a long journeyman's experience he
united the executive force that proved him one of the masterful business
men of his generation.
He was born at Canandaigua, New York. September 3, 1853, son
of Bartholomew and Mary Ann Dacey. Both are now deceased, the
mother having survived the father several years. Bartholomew Dacey,
who died in 1855, was a contractor and for a number of years was
employed in construction work on the Erie Railroad.
James F. Dacey acquired a common school education, never getting
beyond the eighth grade. He first started to learn the printer's trade,
but finding this uncongenial in 1866, when thirteen years of age, he
entered the Brooks Locomotive Works plant at Dunkirk, New York. He
worked on the first locomotive built by that giant concern, and thor-
oughly learned the boiler maker's trade in that plant. Leaving it in
1872, he went out to Elkhart, Indiana, and for four years was in the
shops of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Company. From 1876
to 1888 Mr. Dacey was employed as foreman boiler maker by the
Union Pacific Railway Company between Omaha and other western
cities on the route. During the twenty years of his employment he had
thriftily conserved his means, and in November, 1889, brought his
capital to Duluth, then a city of about thirty thousand inhabitants.
Here he established the Gogebic Steam Boiler Works, the original plant
being 60 by 100 feet. From the first he was insistent upon the quality
and thoroughness of all the work produced by this plant. That reputa-
tion has consistently adhered to the Gogebic output, and the industry
has survived every period of depression in the northwest. The original
capacity having been outgrown in 1907, the plant was greatly enlarged
and thoroughly equipped with the most up-to-date machinery and every
facility called for in a modern manufacturing establishment. It is
operated with power generated by the Great Northern Power Company
system at St. Louis Falls. It was the first plant in Duluth to obtain
current from this public utility.
The Gogebic Steam Boiler Works manufacture boilers for steam
heating and hot water, for manufacturing and mining purposes, tanks,
smokestacks, sheet iron work and plate work of every description. This
product is shipped throughout the northwest, and during the last several
years has gone also to eastern and western territory.
The late Mr. Dacey was a pioneer on the Vermilion and Mesaba
Iron ranges. He built and placed the first boilers going into service
to develop the iron industry. That was long before the advent of rail-
ways, and the boilers had to be hauled in sections and set up in the
field. Mr. Dacey in 1911 also became interested in and took over the
plant formerly known as the Northwestern Steam Boiler and Manu-
facturing Company. With that property he organized a new company
known as the Duluth Boiler Works. It has enjoyed a steady growth
and prosperity, and its products are known from coast to coast. In
the midst of the success and responsibilities connected with these two
industries Mr. Dacey was called by death March 17, 1916. His life
was an inspiring example of complete devotion to business and home
interests. He was never in politics as a candidate, though he worked
for the success of friends and of the Republican party. His chief
diversion was baseball, and he played that game as a youth and to the
1038 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
end of his life was regarded as the most ardent fan in Duluth. He was
a member of the Sacred Heart Cathedral of the Catholic Church at
Duluth.
August 16, 1875, at Elkhart, Indiana, he married Mary Ann Nolan,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Nolan. The only surviving child of
Mr. and Mrs. Dacey is Francis J. Dacey, who married Mary Gowan.
Francis James Dacey. For a quarter of a century, beginning when
he was a youth, Francis James Dacey has recognized one dominant
I:)usiness interest at Duluth, the Gogebic Steam Boiler Works, orig-
inally a product of his father's industrial genius, but the modern
extension of which, keeping pace with the wonderful growth and
development of Duluth, has been largely achieved by Francis J.
Dacey.
The latter was born at Laramie City, Wyoming, July 3, 1878, son
of James Francis and Mary Ann (Nolan) Dacey. His father spent
his early years in Canandaigua, New York, and died ]\Iarch 17, 1916.
He was long an honored and influential citizen, business man and
manufacturer of St. Louis county.
Francis J. Dacey, oldest of three children and the only one now
living, was educated in the parochial and public schools of Duluth
and in 1895, at the age of seventeen, entered his father's business, the
Gogebic Steam Boiler Works at 409-415 Lake Avenue. South. Be-
sides building up this industry he has also been interested in the
Duluth Boiler Works since its reorganization in 1911.
I\Ir. Dacey has been active in local alYairs, serving four years as
a member of the Civil Service Board, is a Republican, a member of
the Commercial Club, Kitchi Gammi Club and Boat Club, and belongs
to Sacred Heart Cathedral. April 6, 1909. he married at Duluth
Mary Gowan. Her father was the late Andrew Gowan. ]\Ir. and
Mrs.' Dacey have three children, Mary Elizabeth, Francis Gowan
and Henry Gowan Dacey.
Andrew Gowan. As a pioneer in northern Minnesota, contributing
materially to the growth of several industries, chiefly logging and the
wholesale grocery business, and at the time of his death one of the most
prominent of Duluth's business men. his many friends and old time
business associates will appreciate the appropriateness of a brief record
of the career of the late Andrew Gowan.
He was born in New Brunswick April 15. 1851. son of George and
Mary Gowan. During his early boyhood his parents moved to Min-
nesota and settled in Stillwater. He received a very brief common school
education and while very young began working in the lumber camps.
In this industry he rose from laborer to executive of one of the largest
corporations.
In October, 1878, at Stillwater, Mr. Gowan married Miss Mary
Bergin, daughter of Matthey Bergin. Soon after his marriage he moved
to Cloquet, which was rapidly becoming the center of northern Min-
nesota's logging operations. The C. N. Nelson Lumber Company, later
a part of the Weyerhaeuser interests, maintained headquarters there.
After working in many capacities for the C. N. Nelson Company
Mr. Gowan was made general superintendent of the logging operations
and a member of the company. Severing his connections with Cloquet
interests in 1899 and moving to Duluth, Mr. Gowan started several
logging camps of his own and became a potent factor in logging circles
at the Head of the Lakes. About the same time he organized the Gowan.
Peyton, Tuohy Company, wholesale grocers, later reorganizing it, and
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1039
was instrumental in making this business one of the largest in the north-
west. His death in 1907 closed a long and influential period of years,
in which he was president of the Gowan-Peyton-Congdon Company and
a director of the American Exchange National Bank of Duluth.
At the time of his death he was a member of the various Duluth
clubs, a Knight of Columbus and a Democrat. Early in his career he
served as mayor of Cloquet and later was vitally interested in Duluth
civic and philanthropic organizations.
In 1904 he suffered the loss of his wife. He was survived by Mary
Gowan Dacey, wife of Francis J. Dacey of Duluth ; Lillian, wife of
John Carver Richards, of Virginia; Henry Patrick, who later as an
American soldier was killed in action in France, September 26, 1918 ;
Claudia, of Virginia ; Andrew Dennis, of Dviluth ; and George Joseph,
of Minneapolis.
Andrew J. Sullivan. At the time of his death, which occurred
July 7, 1920, Andrew J. Sullivan had given more than a third of a
century of faithful and competent service to the Oliver Iron Mining
Company. By that corporation he was held in high esteem, measured
in many promotions and in various tokens of appreciation, and he was
one of the best known men in the Iron Ranges of northern Minnesota.
Prior to his death for a number of years he had been general superin-
tendent of the Chisholm District in the Oliver Iron Mining Company.
Mr. Sullivan was born at Eagle Harbor, Michigan, April 4, 1866,
and death came to him when he was just in the prime of his years
and usefulness. His parents. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Sullivan, were
both born in Ireland, and of their large family of sixteen children
he was second in age. Three years after his birth his parents moved
to Champion, Michigan, and it was there he acquired his early educa-
tion in the common schools. He was only twelve when he became
chore boy for his neighbors, helping earn his own living. Not long
afterward he was employed at the Champion Mine "picking over" ore.
The next stage of employment was at the warehouse assisting the clerk,
and still later he was placed in charge of the warehouse. Then followed
promotion to the office, where he remained until the closing down of
the mine.
It was in 1903 that Mr. Sullivan in the course of his duties with
the Oliver Iron Mining Company came to the Mesaba Range as an
accountant for the Auburn Mine at Virginia. Next after that he was
accountant at the Fayal Mine, later clerk at the Genoa Mine, and in
1908 was made superintendent of the Genoa Mine and subsequently
opened the Gilbert Miiie, continuing in charge of both properties until
1910. Then followed his appointment and promotion to the post of
general superintendent of all the Oliver Mines in the Chisholm District,
and he discharged those responsibilities during the last ten years of
his life.
August 18, 1897, he married Mary Coyne at Champion. She was
born in Pennsylvania, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Charlesworth)
Coyne, her father a native of Ireland and her mother of England.
When she was nine years of age her parents removed to Republic,
Michigan, and later to Champion, in which town she met Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan had five children, named Mary Constance, John
Charlesworth. Eugene S., Kathryne E. and Helen Patricia.
The late Mr. Sullivan was characterized by sterling good citizenship
and a usefulness that made him widely known outside his home and
immediate official duty. For two years he served as supervisor of
1040 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mesaba Township. For more than ten years he was a member and
several times director of the School Board of Genoa and McKinley,
Independent District No. 18, served as a member of the Chisholm
Library Board for two years, was a stanch Republican in politics, a
member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and fraternally was affiliated
with Duluth Lodge of the Knight? of Columbus, with the Knights of
the Macabees at Eveleth, with the Elks Lodge at Eveleth, and with the
Ancient Order of Hibernians at Ishpeming.
Anthony Sartori. Commercial intercourse between honorable
tradesmen and other residents of a community very often results in high
mutual appreciation and lasting friendships. This feeling prevails
between the good people of Buhl, Minnesota, and their best patronized
grocer. Anthony Sartori, who has been in active business here for more
than thirteen years.
Anthony Sartori was borli October 18, 1886, in the historic old
city of Venice, Italy. His parents were Peter and Mary (Slaviero)
Sartori, the former of whom was born at Venice in 1848, and the latter
also in Italy, in 1852. They were married in 1873, and of their eight
children Anthony is the fourth in order of birth. He had school advan-
tages in his native city, and as his father was a lumber contractor of some
means, he was able to have one year in college. Despite the many advan-
tages that Venice offers to her people Anthony Sartori early began to
cherish hopes of sometime coming to America, and this quickened his
industry from the time he was doing odd jobs of work as a boy until
later when he learned the shoemaking trade and thus prepared for a
self-supporting life anywhere.
Mr. Sartori was twenty years of age when the opportunity came
for him to leave Italy and sail for the United States. On arriving here
he immediately went to Hibbing, Minnesota, but shortly afterward
accepted work in the Crockstill Mine at Chisholm, where he remained
for ten months, then worked for five months in 'the Leonard Mine and
later in the Monroe Mine. In 1908 he came to Buhl and on July 5
of that year embarked in a grocery business in partnership with his
brother John and his cousin, Paul Sartori, and the brothers first bought
out the cousin's interest and in 1917 Anthony bought out his brother
John's interest. Mr. Sartori has built up a fine business here, carries
a large stock of standard goods and has the bulk of grocery patronage.
While at Hibbing Mr. Sartori was married on June 15, 1912. to
Nicolina Rosati, who was born in Italy and came to the United States
in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Sartori have had four children : Mary, who is
seven years old ; Guido, who is six ; Amalia, who died when aged
twenty-seven months ; and Amalia (2) who is aged two months. Mr. Sar-
tori and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
On February 20, 1915, Mr. Sartori was naturalized and is an Ameri-
can citizen. He has intelligently studied political questions and is well
informed concerning the rights, responsibilities and privileges of Amer-
ican citizenship, and has become an active member of the Republican
party. He has taken much interest in the welfare of Buhl and for
three years has served on the Library Board and encourages intellectual
effort, being president of the Dante Alighieri Society. He is secretary
of the Italian Political Club.
John Olson, general mining captain of the Oliver Mines of the
Chisholm District, is one of the practical miners of St. Louis County,
and a man who is held in the highest esteem by all who are associated
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1041
with him. He was born in Wermland, Sweden, January 27, 1869, a
son of Olof and Anna (Olson) Errickson. Olof Errickson was born in
Sweden in 1827, and was a farmer by occupation. His wife was also
born in Sweden, in 1826, and they became the parents of eleven children,
of whom John Olson was the ninth in order of birth.
John Olson acquired in the public schools of his native land a train-
ing about equivalent to that of the graded schools of this country, and
during the summer months he assisted his father on the farm. When
he was fifteen years old he left school and for three years devoted all
of his time to farming. When he was eighteen he went to northern
Sweden to work in the saw-mills, and in 1892 he emigrated to Canada,
where he secured employment on railroad construction and in saw-mills
for three years, and in 1895 came to the United States. He was
naturalized in 1897, and came to the Range. At first he worked in the
Hull Mine at Hibbing, being engaged in sinking the shaft which opened
that mine, and then went to another mine owned by the Oliver Mining
Company. In 1901 he was promoted by this company to be shift boss
at the Rust Mine, and in April of that year was transferred to the
Pillsbury Mine. In 1904 Mr. Olson was made day captain at the Clark
Mine, and in 1909 was promoted to the position he now holds, having
earned it through his dependability and industry.
On May 27, 1897, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Caroline Errick-
son at Hibbing. She was born in Sweden, but came to the United States
when young. Mr. and Mrs. Olson became the parents of the following
children: Elmer J. E., who is attending the University of Minnesota,
taking a course in engineering, and during the war he belonged to the
Students Army Training Corps ; Eveline, who is attending McAllister
College at St. Paul, Minnesota; Everett T., who is attending Chisholm
High School ; and Norma C, who is the youngest.
Mr. Olson belongs to Hematite Lodge No. 274, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons. He is an Independent Republican in his political
faith. The Methodist Episcopal Church has in him an active member
and generous contributor. During the late war Mr. Olson was a zealous
worker in the sale of Liberty Bonds, and did all in his power to aid
the administration in carrying out its policies. He is a sound, reliable
and hard-working man, who never shirks a responsibility or seeks to
avoid a duty.
John P. Johnson came to Duluth fifty years ago, when only a small
village clustered about "the Head of the Lakes." Subsequent years have
brought him a constantly enlarging scope of service, and that service
has justly gained him the respect and esteem of all classes of citizens
in St. Louis County.
Mr. Johnson was born at Franklin, Connecticut, February 13, 1851.
His Johnson ancestors came from England to America during Colonial
times. His grandfather, Oliver Johnson, was a Connecticut farmer.
His own parents were Oliver L. and Martha (Mumford) Johnson. His
father was born at Franklin, Connecticut, in 1823, and died in 1874.
He was a prominent railroad man, for many years was purchasing agent
for the New York & New Haven Railroad and a short time before he
was retired was connected with the New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
He was twice married, and was the father of thirteen children, ten of
whom are still living. He was a Republican in politics, one time a
member of the Connecticut Legislature, and a member of the Congre-
gational Church.
John P. Johnson completed the course in an academy of his native
1042 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
town in 1869, and a few months later, in 1870, arrived at Duluth,
destined to be his permanent home and the scene of his mature career.
The first season he was in the employ of the Lake Superior & Missis-
sippi Railroad Company, the first railroad entering Duluth. He then
found employment as bookkeeper with a fellow townsman from Con-
necticut, E. L. Smith, and from 1878 to 1880 succeeded Mr. Smith in
the management of this local meat business. Mr. Johnson first came into
prominence in local affairs when he was elected in 1880 as treasurer
of St. Louis County. He was chosen as a Republican, and kept in office
by repeated elections until 1890. On retiring from office he engaged in
the insurance business and acquired a large following in that line. In
1900 he was elected clerk of the District Court of the Eleventh District,
and is now finishing his twentieth consecutive year in the duties of that
office. At different times he has also served as city alderman, and has
had some business interests aside from those already mentioned.
Mr. Johnson is one of the oldest and most prominent Masons in
Duluth and for twenty-five years has been treasurer of four Masonic
bodies represented in the city. He is affiliated with Palestine Lodge
No. 79, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Keystone Chapter No. 20,
Royal Arch Masons, Duluth Commandery No. 18, Knights Templar,
Duluth Council No. 6, Royal and Select Masons, is a member of the
Scottish Rite bodies and also of the honorary thirty-third degree and the
Temple of the Mystic Shrine and the Eastern Star. He is affiliated
also with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Duluth Commercial
Club, and was a charter member of the first Congregational Church
organized in Duluth, and has been instrumental in promoting the inter-
ests of his church and the building of several houses of worship in
the city.
In 1874 Mr. Johnson married Miss Catherine C. Smith. They have
two children : Earl E. and Robert E.
Fred H. Lounsberry is founder and sole owner of F. H. Louns-
berry & Company, one of the largest printing industries of St. Louis
County. The company has not only a plant with every equipment for
general printing and publishing, but also for other printing processes
and manufacture practically all the type used in the business.
Mr. Lounsberry was born at Minneapolis and is a son of Col. C. A.
Lounsberry, a veteran editor and newspaper man still living, at the age
of seventy-eight. Colonel Lounsberry was founder of the Duluth Daily
News, now merged in the News-Tribune. Fred H. Lounsberry was
fourth in a family of five children. He has lived in Duluth since 1887,
and for a time was employed by his father on the Duluth Journal and
later with the Duluth Herald, being connected with its job printing
department from 1888 to 1892. In 1898 he became one of the founders
of the printing firm of Peachey & Lounsberry, which has since been
succeeded by F. H. Lounsberry & Company, of which he is sole owner.
Mr. Lounsberry is married, and his family consists of his wife and two
daughters. He is a Scottish Rite and Knight Templar Mason and a
member of the First Presbyterian Church at Duluth.
Arthur P. Silliman, who helped survey the original townsite of
Hibbing and has been one of the most generous and public spirited
citizens of that rich and populous community, has to his credit experi-
ences and achievements as a mining engineer and business man that
will for all time link his name closely with the history of the Iron Range
country of the north.
PI
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1043
A native of Minnesota, a product of the best universities and a tech-
nical school, Mr. Silliman was well equipped for the arduous responsi-
bilities that awaited him in the development of the Iron Ranges. He
was born at Minneapolis. March 31. 1868. His ancestry was old Con-
necticut Yankee stock. His father, Dwight Silliman, a native of New
York, graduated from the New York College of Physicians and Sur-
geons and the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, and was
likewise a pioneer of his profession in the northwest. He practiced a
few years at Minneapolis and thereafter for over forty years enjoyed
the honors and responsibilities of a successful physician at Hudson,
Wisconsin. He died in 1919. His wife, Marietta Parks, who died in
1887, was a native of Victor, New York. They are survived by five
children.
Arthur P. Silliman graduated from high school at Hudson, Wiscon-
sin. Following the regular course, the University of Wisconsin gave
him the degree of Bachelor of Letters in 1890, and his technical studies
were pursued in the Michigan School of Mines at Houghton.
Returning to Minnesota, Mr. Silliman made his first visit to what is
now Hibbing in 1893. The townsite had been laid out by Captain
Hibbing the previous year, but the survey was completed by
Mr. Silliman. While Mr. Silliman was working with his instruments the
only building in the vicinity was a log house which was not included
within the lines of the townsite, and he therefore saw the community
without a single improvement of development. Practically the entire
region was covered with a dense growth of pine trees.
After this work as townsite surveyor Mr. Silliman entered the service
of the New York & Mesaba Iron Company, the predecessor of the Lake
Superior Consolidated Iron Mines, in the capacity of engineer. During
the panic beginning in the fall of 1893 he and all employes were glad to
accept New York Clearing House certificates in lieu of money. Mr.
Silliman, in November, 1893, went to Mountain Iron as engineer and
chemist for the Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines, which in the
meantime had passed under the control of the Rockefellers. About this
time Mr. Silliman acquired a financial interest in the company, doing
this contrary to the advice of his friends. Subsequent events proved the
wisdom of his course.
Mr. Silliman was a resident of Mountain Iron until the spring of 1899,
and after six months at Iron River, Michigan, returned to Minnesota in
the fall of that year in the employ of the Minnesota Iron Company at
the Genoa and Elba Mines. He was so occupied until April 1, 1900,
when he established an independent office as a mining engineer at
Hibbing.
During the past twenty years Mr. Silliman has been identified as a
technical expert and adviser with nearly every important mine on the
Range. He was one of the original incorporators of the Pearson
Mining Company, operating the Pearson Mine at Nashwauk and the
Morrow Mine at Eveleth. He was the active director of the A. P.
Silliman Exploration Company during its extensive drilling operations
carried on from 1906 to 1915.
On December 26, 1901, Mr. Silliman married Miss Emma Arnold,
of Mankato, Minnesota, daughter of Adam and Christine (Margraf)
Arnold. Adam Arnold was born in Germany and came to the United
States about the same time as Carl Schurz. He had become involved in
the efforts to establish a republican form of government in Germany,
and had to suffer practically exile from his native land. The liberal
spirit, the thrift and enterprise which Germany lost in the emigration
Vol. Ill — 8
1044 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
of such citizens were contributed to the American states, and Adam
Arnold was one of our most exemplary citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Silliman
had five children : Thomas A., Paul D., Frances E., Mary \V., and
Arthur P., Jr.
With an unbounded faith in the future of Hibbing and surrounding
territory, Mr. Silliman has never hesitated to invest in local real estate.
From property he personally owned he laid out in 1906 the townsite of
Brooklyn, adjoining Hibbing, containing forty acres. The entire area
was then covered with timber. This was the first addition, and in 1909
he platted another forty acres, comprising a second addition, and soon
afterward both additions were incorporated in the village of Hibbing,
and the recent census gave those additions a population of 2,132. In this
enterprise Mr. Silliman did not follow the usual methods prevailing in a
real estate subdivision. In its native condition the land was partly
swamp and partly covered with heavy timber. The timber was cleared
away, the low ground drained, and Mr. Silliman expended a large
amount of capital in laying out and constructing permanent streets and
installing municipal facilities, including a thoroughly modern water and
electric plant. While thus building solidly for the future, he had his.
foresight and investment substantially rewarded. He has been generous
of time and means to promote all public improvements. He was a
member of the first park board for the village of Hibbing. and assisted
in acquiring the ground that now comprises the two beautiful parks.
During his residence at Mountain Iron he served five years as a member
of the School Board and performed a similar service at Hibbing five
years. He has been supervisor of Stuntz township, and is now a
member of the County Work Farm Board and the State Land Improve-
ment Board. He is a life member of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers, also the Lake Superior Institute of Mining Engineers, is
president of the Northern Minnesota Development Association and
president of the St. Louis County Club. During the war he largely
neglected his extensive business interests to give his time as chairman of
the War Savings Stamps Committee for Hibbing district, and other
patriotic causes. Mr. Silliman is independent in politics, is a Scottish
Rite Mason and Mystic Shriner, trustee of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, diocese of Duluth, and is senior warden of Christ Episcopal
Church of Hibbing.
Peter Wall, who is now living retired at Chisholm, is one of the
splendid examples of what the foreign-born American can accomplish
when he brings to this country a willingness to work and gives in return
for the advantages ofifered him a loyal and sincere service. Mr. Wall
came here a stranger, with but little knowledge of the language, but he has
prospered, and at the same time earned the confidence and respect of those
with whom he has been associated.
The birth of Peter Wall occurred in Finland, March 30, 1875. He is
a son of Gust Wall, also born in Finland, in 1842, who was a miller by
trade. The mother of Peter Wall was born in 1840 and was a native of
Finland. The parents had eight children, of whom Peter was the fifth in
order of birth, and of them four are still living.
When he was fifteen years old Peter Wall began to attend a technical
school at night, and during the three years that he studied in this school
he learned the trade of a baker, and while he was doing this he was assist-
ing his father in his flour-mill. When he was nineteen years old Peter
Wall went to work as a baker, and later bought a business of his own
and conducted it for five years. In 1902 he became a resident of Chis-
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1045
holm, Minnesota, and while he was working as a diamond drill helper for
the Longyear Drilling Company he conducted a small boarding house he
had bought. After eighteen months of this double work he decided to
give it up and attend school so as to gain a working knowledge of the
American language, and for one winter went to school. Feeling thus
better prepared to meet the public, he established himself in a bakery
business and conducted it very successfully until he sold it January 1,
1920, disposing of the business and the building in which his shop was
located, and which he had erected for that purpose.
During the great war Mr. Wall had charge of the flour distribution
among the bakers, restaurants and hotels of Chisholm, and rendered the
Government a very efficient service in this capacity. In politics he is an
independent Republican. Fraternally he belong to Chisholm Lodge No.
1334, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Lutheran Church
has in him a faithful member.
On March 14, 1897, Mr. Wall was married to Fannie Rauhala, also a
native of Finland. They have the following children: Jennie E., Arney
P., Sulo G., George A., Helen T. and Frederick T.
C. R. Magney. The mayor and executive head of the municipal gov-
ernment of Duluth from 1917 until 1920 was C. R. Magney, who for about
ten years preceding his election to this post was a successful young lawyer
of the Duluth bar. He resigned as mayor September 15, 1920, and was
elected judge of the District Court in November, 1920, for a term of
six years.
Mr. Magney was born January 11, 1883, in the town of Trenton,
Pierce County, Wisconsin. His father, Rev. Jonas Magney, was a native
of Sweden and was brought to America in 1858 by his parents, who
located at Center City, Minnesota, on a farm. Jonas Magney prepared
himself for the profession of the ministry in the Lutheran Church, and
made that his life occupation. He was a church builder, organizer and
preacher at many points in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He died in
Minnesota in 1910.
C. R. Magney is the eldest in a family of five children, all of whom
are still living. He acquired his early education in the public schools of
South Stillwater, Minnesota, and took his literary course in Gustavus
Adolphus College at St. Peter, where he graduated A. B. in 1903. He
followed that by a law course in Harvard University, from which he holds
the degree LL. B. granted him in 1908. His work as a lawyer brought
him rapid advancement and favorable recognition in Duluth, and on
April 3, 1917, two weeks before America entered war with Germany, he
was elected to the post of mayor. He gave a vigorous administration of
municipal affairs throughout the critical period of the war, and showed
every qualification for heading the government of one of the best cities
in the northwest.
Mr. Magney is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Duluth.
On April 26, 1911, he married Miss Lillian C. Lundgren, whose parents
were natives of Sweden. They have one son, John.
. Selmer M. Johnson, M. D., is a competent and skilled physician and
surgeon whose work for nearly ten years has been identified with the
Buhl community, where he is a member of the staff of the Shaw
Hospital and otherwise actively associated with the senior physician at
Buhl, Dr. A. W. Shaw. Dr. Johnson saw service with the American
Expeditionary Forces in France and was absent from Buhl with the army
nearly a year.
1046 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
He was born at New Richland. Minnesota. October 1, 1884. His
father. Carl Johnson, was born in Norway in 1852. and was less than a
year old when brought to America. He is. therefore, in all important
respects a complete American. He has followed an active career as a
merchant. Carl Johnson married in 1877, and his wife was born in
Wisconsin in 1860, of Norwegian ancestry, and she died in 1898.
Dr. Johnson was the fourth in a family of twelve children, eight of
whom reached mature years. He acquired his early education in the
common schools of New Richland, graduated from the high school there
in 1904, following which he spent one year in St. Olaf College at North-
field. Minnesota, and then began his medical studies in the University
of Minnesota. He was in the University Medical School four years,
graduating in 1909. The following year he served as an interne in the
hospital at Minneapolis, then for a few months engaged in a general
practice at Davenport, North Dakota, and later at Menomonie, Wiscon-
sin, but in March, 1911, began his long association which has continued
practically ten years with Dr. Shaw at Buhl.
In September, 1915, Dr. Johnson married Miss Louise de Haas, who
was born in St. Paul of German-Swiss ancestry. The three children of
their marriage are Selmer M. and Charles Frederick, twins, born Mav 21,
1916, and Helen Louise, born April 6, 1920.
It was on June 6, 1918, that Dr. Johnson was enrolled and received his
commission as first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps. On August
1, 1918, he was sent for training to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, remained
there six weeks, and then went overseas as a casual. On reaching France
he was attached to the 103rd Ammunition Train of the 28th Division, and
it was with that body of the Expeditionary forces that he saw his real
service during the Meuse-Argonne campaign. In April following the
signing of the armistice he was transferred to the 539th Engineers, and
with that contingent returned to America, reaching our shores June 30,
1919. He received his honorable discharge from service July 15th at
Camp Dodge, Iowa, and a day or so later resumed his active association
with Dr. Shaw at Buhl.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the St. Louis County and State Medical
Societies, the American Medical Association, is an independent in politics
and is affiliated with Hematite Lodge No. 274 of the Masonic Order. In
1917, in 1919 and again in 1920 he was elected a member of the Buhl
School Board.
Emanuel A. Swanstrom, a prominent Duluth real estate man, mem-
ber of the firm of Swanstrom Brothers, is a son of the late Emanuel G.
Swanstrom. a Duluth pioneer, who for many years was one of the
strongest and ablest men in the northern country.
Emanuel G. Swanstrom was born in Sweden and came to America in
1854. and for a year or so was employed in labor in Chisago County and
located at Duluth in 1856. when the city was in the first stages of its
growth and development. He rose above his early circumstances as a
common laborer, and in the early seventies engaged in the grocery busi-
ness at Oneota, and for sixteen years served as county commissioner.
President Arthur appointed him receiver of the Land Office. He also
represented the county in both the House of Representatives and the
Senate, and had the distinction of introducing many bills in both Houses,
and on good authority it is said he never lost a measure he proposed. His
associates in the Legislature and in his community recognize his sterling
judgment and integrity, and the depth of sincere interest he manifested in
everything pertaining to the welfare of northern Minnesota. He bgan
LI
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1047
life with little education, developed his own resources, and many promi-
nent men took pride in his acquaintance. He was prominent in politics,
casting his first vote in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln, and helped support
the Republican party in local and state and national affairs. He was a
member of the Lutheran Church. Emanuel G. Swanstrom married Jennie
L. Abbott, and of their seven children six are still living.
Fifth among them is Emanuel A. Swanstrom, who was born at Duluth
January 26, 1878. He acquired his education in the public schools of his
native city, and when about eighteen years of age went -to work as a
stenographer for the Duluth-Mesaba Railway. He was with the railroad
for about a year and later for about eight years was bookkeeper and
stenographer for the Amenia Elevator Company. Mr. Swanstrom
embarked in the real estate business in 1908, forming a partnership with
his brother, A. F. Swanstrom, under the name Swanstrom Brothers.
They have perfected an organization that has handled niany large and
important deals in real estate both in Duluth and surrounding territory.
Mr. Swanstrom is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and
Shriner and a member of the Elks Lodge. August 3, 1904, he married
Miss Tillie C. Knudsen. They have one daughter, Verena M. L.
Swanstrom, born November 26, 1912.
James Hart. An example of determination, ambition and industry
culminating in the acquirement of success and position is found in- the
career of James Hart, president of the Duluth Ice Company. Mr. Hart
was possessed of only ordinary public school advantages when he started
life on his own account, and his rise has been solely due to his own
efforts and abilities. His rise from mine-boy to man of large business
affairs has bridged a wide gap, and in this bridging he has taken advan-
tage of only strictly legitimate opportunities.
Mr. Hart was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, November 18,
1861, a son of James Hart, also a native of Canada, who brought his
family to the United States in 1864, at that time settling in the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan, where he engaged in teaming and contracting.
Subsequently he removed to Duluth in 1889, and followed the same
lines of business until his death in 1906. He and his wife were the
parents of eleven children, of whom James Hart, the younger, was the
fourth in order of birth. He attended the public schools of Michigan
until he reached the age of thirteen years, and at that time secured
employment in the Calumet and later in the Hecla Mines, being thus
employed until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He was next
employed by Briggs & Cole, of Calumet, in the mining business, remaining
with that concern five years, and in 1889 accompanied the family to
Duluth, which has since been his home and the scene of his successful
business ventures. In 1909 Mr. Hart became the founder and organizer
of the Duluth Ice and Fuel Company, of which he was made president,
the company starting its activities by handling lake ice, with a large plant
located on Spirit Lake. This furnished sufficient product for the com-
pany's customers for seven years, but the advent of the United States
Steel Corporation's plant, with its great number of employes, in 1916
increased the company's field of operation, and Mr. Hart accordingly
found it necessary to increase in proportion his output. Accordingly he
erected a large artificial ice plant at First avenue and East Buchanan, this
having a capacity of approximately 100 tons a day. The office is located
at No. Ill East Superior street. In connection with the ice business
Mr. Hart carries on a coal business, selling the best brands, including
Premium Anthracite and other noted brands of hard coal. He has like-
1048 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
wise been identified with various other business industries of Duluth and
was the incorporator of the Hart Transfer and Storage Company, of
which he is president.
Mr. Hart has a number of important civic connections and is affiHated
with several fraternities. In all avenues of life's activity he has been
found reliable and trustworthy, and in the long list of those whose confi-
dence and esteem he has secured there are to be found numerous warm
and appreciative friends.
Mr. Hart was married on the 3rd of June, 1884, to Kate C. Rogan, a
native of New Jersey. Their five children, all living, are : James J., Rose
D., Edward L., Mary J., and Albert S., the boys being associated with
their father.
James P. Vaughan. The schools of Chisholm are in keeping with
the progress of the time in the Range country of northern Minnesota.
A maxim of the "Range" is "the best is not too good." With wealth at
its command, the public of Chisholm has demanded the best at the hands
of its officials and secured it. Acting upon this the school authorities
looked about to secure the services of an educator of national fame and
the highest scholarly attainments, and found that their exacting require-
ments were realized in James P. Vaughan, to whom they offered the
superintendency of their schools. The fact that his services have been
retained through a period of years proves that he has measured up to
the ideals of the people, and that here he has found congenial and
stimulating surroundings and conditions.
James P. Vaughan was born at Eyota, Minnesota, February 22, 1882,
a son of Daniel and Catherine (Madden) Vaughan, the former being a
farmer of Olmstead County, Minnesota. One of nine children, Mr.
Vaughan was brought up to make himself useful on the home farm, but
at the same time was given opportunity to attend the public schools of
his neighborhood. His naturally strong mentality was not satisfied with
the instruction furnished him, and he also had ambitions which reached
out beyond the confines of a farming community, and so in 1898 he went
to Winona, Minnesota, and took a course in the State Normal School,
from which he was graduated in 1902. and during this time did high
school work at the normal school.
For two years Mr. Vaughan was principal of the schools at North
Branch, Minnesota, and then attended the University of Wisconsin at
Madison, from which he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of
Bachelor of Philosophy, and at the same time he did considerable work
toward a Master's degree. In 1907 he came to Chisholm to assume
charge of the schools, and has since retained that responsible position,
and under his fostering care they have been built up until they compare
favorably with similar institutions in any community no matter what its
size. Mr. Vaughan belongs to the Kiwanis Club, of which at its organiza-
tion in 1920 he was elected the first president. He belongs to the Phi
Beta Kappa college fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks. Mr. Vaughan has turned his talents into literary channels and is
the author of a monograph on "Educational Democracy," and has long
been a valued contributor to the educational press. He belongs to the
Minnesota State Educational Association, and has frequently made public
addresses on educational subjects.
In 1917 he was married to Miss Leathe Wright, of Rensselaer, Indi-
ana. Mr. Vaughan has always held that a sound education strengthens
the moral consciousness and tempers the soul for life. In all of his work
and writings he has had a distinct impulse toward the humanities, and
DULUTH AND SI. LOUIS COUNTY 1049
has been an inspiration among his pupils for activities of the best sort.
He has awakened in their hearts the creative joy of good work and
started more than one of them on the highway to fame and fortune.
Byron H. Graham. Just a year after the great forest fire that
destroyed the village of Chisholm Byron H. Graham became a citizen
of the community, and has since developed and carried on an extensive
business as an electrical contractor and dealer in electrical supplies.
Mr. Graham was born at Marshall, Minnesota, November 23, 1881.
Both his parents are of Scotch ancestry. His father. Alexander Graham,
was born in Wisconsin November 13, 1842. and his mother lived to the
remarkable age of a hundred and one years, having been born in 1813
and dying in 1914. In 1866 Alexander Graham married Margaret Hale,
who was born in Illinois in May, 1846. Both are still living. Alexander
Graham came to Minnesota with an ox team before railroads were con-
structed through the northwest, spent a long and active life as a farmer
but is now retired.
Byron H. Graham acquired a substantial education at Brainerd,
Minnesota, graduating from the high school there in 1898. For one
term he taught in a country school near Brainerd, worked eight months
in a grocery store, at the end of which time he and his brother Orton
bought out the store and conducted it as a partnership proposition for
two years. Mr. Graham's next venture was the establishment of a livery
business, and this was continued about two years. On retiring from that
business he spent perhaps a year in travel over the different states, and
in 1905 first engaged in the electrical business at Staples, Minnesota.
He was there two years, and in September, 1909, arrived at Chisholm and
has had a busy part in the general building program and in supplying a
general electrical contracting service to this community.
Mr. Graham wherever he has lived has shown a keen interest in
local affairs and his good citizenship has been especially pronounced at
Chisholm. He served some time as village recorder, in 1916-17 and
1917-18, was village trustee in 1915-16, and is now a member of the
Water and Light Board. During the World war he was chief of draft
registration and a member of the Draft Advisory Board. Mr. Graham
in politics is classified as an independent Democrat. He is much inter-
ested in athletics, particularly baseball, and has been identified in an
official way with the Chisholm Baseball Club and at one time was its
president. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Com-
mercial Club, is present exalted ruler of Lodge No. 1334 of the Elks,
being a charter member of that lodge, and is affiliated with Chisholm
Lodge No. 179, Knights of Pythias. Hematite Lodge No. 274, Accepted
Free and Ancient Masons, Duluth Scottish Rite Consistory and Aad
Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Duluth.
Mr. Graham married Miss Bessie Mackaman, who was born at Shel-
don, Iowa, in October, 1882. Their six children are named lone, Donald,
Inez, Bessie, William and Margaret.
Thomas J. Murphy. The mining interests of the Mesaba Range
are so important as to demand the best efforts of some of the most com-
petent mining experts of the country, and one of them worthy of special
mention is Thomas J. Murphy, mining captain for the Oliver Mines at
Buhl. He was born in Cumberland, England, May 20, 1859, a son of
Thomas and Mary (Drake) Murphy, natives of Ireland, who were mar-
ried in England, and became the parents of five children, of whom
1050 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Thomas J. was the youngest. Thomas Murphy was a miner, and was
engaged in that hne of work at Cumberland for a number of years.
Thomas J. Murphy has received the greater portion of his educational
training in the stern school of practical experience. When only twelve
years old he started to work in a mill, and did odd jobs, being thus
employed until he was twenty years old. At that time he went into
the mines as a miner's helper, and two years later took a partner and
became a full-fledged miner, working as such in England until 1884,
when he came to the United States, and for about a year thereafter
worked on the New York, New England & Hartford Railroad. Mr. Mur-
phy then came as far west as Michigan and found employment in the old
Puritan iron mine at Vassar, working there as a miner for about a
year. He then went to the Tontene Mine, now called the Federal Mine,
and a year later left it to go to the Wakefield Mine, both of which are
near Vassar. He then went to Ironwood, Michigan, as a miner in the
Ashland Mine, and was connected with it. the Big Norrie and the First
National from 1890 to 1893. following which he worked in the coal
mines of Iowa for about a year. In 1895 he went to X'irginia, Minne-
sota, and found employment in the old Victoria Mine "test piting." Six
months later he went to the Franklin Mine, and worked as a miner for
a year, leaving it to work for a few months in the Commodore Mine. His
next employment was in the Mesaba Mountain Pit as a driller, all of
the work in those days being done by hand, and he spent a part of
the summer there. He then went to Arizona and worked as a miner
and explorer in the following gold mines : Old Senator, the Crook Canon
and the Chicago, spending about a year in this work, and then returning,
in 1898, to Eveleth. Minnesota, to work in the Adams ]\Iine as a miner
and later a shift boss, continuing with this mine for about thirteen
years. Once more he went to Virginia. Minnesota, and was night captain
of the Alpena Mine for about two years, leaving it to come to Buhl and
assisted in opening the Oliver Mines, of which he is captain.
Mr. Murphy is one of the progressive men of Buhl and has been
treasurer of the Mesaba Mountain township, and is a member of the
Buhl Library Board. In politics he is an independent Republican. A
Catholic, he is active in church work, and belongs to the Knights of
Columbus of Mrginia. During the late war he was collector for the
Young Men's Christian Association and the Knights of Columbus.
On January 15, 1889, Mr. Murphy was married in England to Miss
Ellen Cavenaugh, who was born in Ireland. After her husband had
made a home for her Mrs. Murphy followed him to the United States,
arriving here in 1891. Their children are as follows: Mary, who is a
graduate nurse at the City and County Hospital at St. Paul, Minnesota:
Margaret, who has charge of the supply room of the Buhl High School :
Gregory J., who is a veteran of the great war, having served overseas,
and is now a sergeant of police at Buhl : James, who is also a veteran of
the great war, and is a professional ball player in the summer and a
banker in the winter : Dennis, who was in the army during the great war.
is a graduate of Hibbing College and now attending the University of
Wisconsin : and William, Emmett, Doroth and Katherine, all of whom
are attending school.
Benjamin E. B.\ker. The monotony which often ensues from the
following of any single line of endeavor has never been a feature of the
career of Benjamin E. Baker. His life has been one of varied activities
in various parts of the country, and while his chief attention at this
time is devoted to the grain commission business at Duluth, he is inter-
ested also in various other enterprises.
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DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1051
Mr. Baker was born at Dover, Olmsted County, Minnesota, June 20,
1868. His father, Ezekiel Porter Baker, was a native of Maine, who
with four brothers came to Minnesota in the fall of 1861. He and one
brother enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, and Ezekiel P.
Baker served more than three years. For a time he was engaged in the
grain business with his brothers at Winona, but later turned his atten-
tion to farming in Olmsted County, where he also conducted a pork-
packing business. One of two children, Benjamin E. Baker was reared
and educated at Winona. His early life was adventurous and somewhat
typical of the red-blooded youth of the land, for when he was but fifteen
years of age he ran away from home and secured employment with the
Diamond Joe Steamship Line on the Mississippi River. Later he went
to South Dakota, where he took up a homestead, but his experience there
was anything but a happy one, and after two years, during which he
nearly starved on several occasions, he sold out for a small sum.
Mr. Baker then went to Mankota, Minnesota, where he worked for the
Standard Oil Company, and then for a time was a resident of St. Paul.
In the fall of 1890 he came to Duluth, and this city has continued to be
his home.
Upon locating at Duluth Mr. Baker embarked in the real estate busi-
ness, and in 1894 became a member of the Board of Trade and has since
been in the grain commission business. During his career he has had
confidence in his own judgment and the willingness to back that judg-
ment, and this has at times made his operations somewhat spectacular,
with the result that he has made and lost several sizeable fortunes. One
of his most successful ventures was an investment in the oil fields of
Louisiana. He induced nine of his friends to go in with him, each
putting up $5,000, and while before that time he had never seen an oil
derrick in his life, after two years in the oil fields he returned to Duluth
with winnings of something like $300,000. Other enterprises have bene-
fited by his identification with them. A large factor in Mr. Baker's suc-
cess may be said to be his capacity for making and keeping friends. Of
a jovial and generous nature, he loves his home, his family and his
friends, and this love is his real life.
In 1894 he married Miss Clara Dewey, of St. Paul, whose father was
a second cousin of Admiral George Dewey. Three children have been
born to this union: Philip, who served as a flying ensign in the dirigible
service under Admiral Sims in the World war; James, who was a second
lieutenant aerial gunner in that struggle ; and Dorothy, who studied for
a nurse but was denied the privilege of going overseas. The boys
enlisted while students at Yale.
George Lerch. The Lerch Brothers came to the Mesaba Range in
its infancy. Virginia had then about eight houses ; Hibbing had not yet
been born. They are chemists and their services were in demand as the
various mines came into being. Becoming contractors, they engaged to
do the chemical work for the companies engaged in developing these
mining properties. From a humble beginning they have become pros-
perous, their success being undoubtedly enhanced by the fact that they
are masters of their profession. Today they have some thirteen different
laboratories and employ about eighty men. It is said that the Lerch
Brothers are the largest independent chemists in the world. They have
participated in the constructive work of this region and have seen Vir-
ginia and Hibbing grow into flourishing little cities where are centered
some of the most important mining properties in northern Minnesota.
When they came to the Range the utmost pioneer conditions prevailed,
1052 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
and they, like the others of that period, had to endure the hardships
incident to frontier life and because of them they can all the more appre-
ciate the comforts and luxuries of today.
George Lerch was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1865, a
son of David and Sarah (Young) Lerch, both of Pennsylvania, and of
Dutch ancestry. . By occupation David Lerch was a contractor, and dur-
ing the war between the north and the south he served as a soldier of
the Union army; His death occurred in 1910, when he was eighty-nine
years of age.
Growing up in his native place, George Lerch completed its high
school course in 1885, and then matriculated at Lafayette College and
was graduated therefrom as a chemical engineer in 1889. He began his
professional career as chemist for the Bethlehem Steel Company at
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and continued with that company until 1892,
when he came west to Virginia, Minnesota, and with his brother, Fred
Lerch, embarked as an independent chemist. From Virginia he came
to Hibbing in 1895. It was in this year that the Mahoning Mine was
opened, and the Lerch Brothers have continued to be its chemists. In
addition to attending to all of the chemical work for the Mahoning Mine,
these brothers are doing similar work for eighty other mines, and their
business is all conducted under contract.
When Fred Lerch first walked into what is now Hibbing there was
scarcely a building in the town. When George Lerch came here it was
but a very small place with no public improvements. On the present site
of the Mahoning, Hull-Rusk and other mines a dense forest stood, all
of which has since been cleared away. George Lerch has confined his
labors strictly to his business and rarely if ever mixes in politics except
to exercise his right of franchise. He helped to organize the Presby-
terian Church at Virginia and also the one of that denomination at Hib-
bing. He is a Royal Arch and thirty-second degree Mason and belongs
to the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of Mesaba Lodge No. 255,
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and he belongs to the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks.
On December 17, 1898, Mr. Lerch was married to Miss Fannie Mar-
vin, a daughter of Luke A. Marvin, of Duluth, Minnesota. The Marvins
were the fourth family to locate at what is now Duluth.
I. K. Lewis. A Duluth lawyer whose attainments have brought him
some prominent associations and a large amount of business in his pro-
fession, I. K. Lewis spent his early life largely on a Wisconsin farm,
but was thoroughly equipped and liberally educated in preparation for
his professional career.
He was born October 6, 1880, son of James and Margaret Lewis, both
of Welsh ancestry and nativity. James Lewis came from Wales to Amer-
ica in 1867, and became a successful farmer in Monroe County, Wis-
consin. He is still living, at the age of eighty-five, at Nashotah, Wiscon-
sin. His life record has many things to commend it. In business he was
first and last a good farmer, knew how to till the soil and manage his
afifairs, and at one time had about four hundred and forty acres under
his management, producing both stock and grain. He has been a Repub-
lican in politics, a member of the Congregational Church and among his
personal characteristics were two which might be mentioned : One being
to pay his bills promptly, and the other an intense desire and habit of
giving absolutely a square deal to everyone. He was the father of nine
children, five of whom are living today, the Duluth lawyer being next to
the youngest. His mother, Margaret Lewis, was the youngest daughter
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1053
of a well-to-do farmer of Carnarvonshire, Wales. She possessed much
of the native ability and independent spirit of her race, and was untiring
in her labors for her family and in her efforts to build into the char-
acter of her children a high regard for integrity and industry.
I. K. Lewis spent his early life on his father's farm, attended the
country schools at Herseyville in Monroe County, also a village school
at Bangor, Wisconsin, and graduated from high school at Sparta. His
literary education was completed when he was graduated with the A. B.
degree from Beloit College at Beloit, Wisconsin. He acquired his pro-
fessional training in Harvard Law School, which gave him his LL. B.
degree. Mr. Lewis came to Duluth in 1909 and has been busily engaged
in law practice ever since. He started as law clerk in the firm of
Washburn, Bailey & Mitchell. About a year later he formed a law
partnership with Howard T. Abbott and E. B. Merrill under the firm
name of Abbott, Merrill & Lewis. Mr. Merrill withdrew from the firm
about three years later, and two others who came into the partnership
were E. W. MacPherran and George M. Gilbert, changing the firm name
to Abbott, MacPherran, Lewis & Gilbert. Mr. Lewis continued a member
of that firm until November 1, 1917, at which time he withdrew to con-
duct his own practice, and from that date until January 1. 1921. he
practiced alone with offices in the Lonsdale Building. On January 1,
1921, he organized the firm of Lewis and Hunt by forming a partner-
ship with Rolls F. Hunt, a friend from law school days. The firm is
engaged in general practice, involving also much insurance and corpora-
tion law, with offices at 800 Lonsdale Building. Mr. Lewis has been and
is associated with a nvimber of business enterprises in Duluth.
He is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Order of Elks, belongs
to the Young Men's Christian Association, Commercial Club, Boat Club,
Kitchi Gammi Club and Kiwanis Club, is independent in politics with a
Republican leaning, and for several years has been prominent in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as class leader and superintendent
. of the Sunday School and president of the Men's Club. During the
World war he served as a "Four Minute Man," and as a member of the
Minnesota Home Guards.
On October 6. 1914, at Elgin, Illinois, Mr. Lewis married Berenice
Ella Wright, daughter of John A. and Frances Ella Wright. Mrs. Lewis
was educated in the public schools of Elgin, and was graduated from
Emerson College at Boston. Since her marriage she has enjoyed many
social activities and community responsibilities in Duluth, being a worker
in the Young Women's Christian Association, the Camp Fire Girls, and
had charge of one of the Red Cross Circles for French relief during the
World war. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children : Margaret, born
December 3, 1915, and John Wright, born October 20, 1918.
The Washington Junior High School is located on Lake avenue
and Third street. It is one of the most modern high school buildings in
the northwest. It is a block in length and has two large wings.
The Junior High School includes the seventh, eighth and ninth grades
and offers a wide range of subjects. The course of study includes the
academic subjects, English, history, mathematics, geography, French and
Latin ; the commercial subjects of bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic,
stenography and typewriting; the art subjects of drawing, design, paint-
ing, lettering, art history, art appreciation, metalry, jewelry, pottery,
basketry and weaving. Music is required in all grades. An orchestra
of thirty pieces and boys' and girls' choruses have been organized.
1054 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
The principal at the present time is Mr. A. M. Santee. He was born
at Oswego, Kansas, and was the only son of six children. When about
ten years of age his parents moved to Princeville, Illinois, where he
attended the upper grades and high school. He is a graduate of the
Illinois State Normal University, also of the University of Illinois, from
which school he received the A. B. and A. M. degrees. For four years
he was superintendent of public schools at Ipava, Illinois, and for six
years superintendent at Virginia, Illinois. He then re-entered the Uni-
versity of Illinois in the graduate school and was elected assistant in the
Department of Education. While there he became deeply interested in
junior high school work, and out of this interest and his many qualifica-
tions followed his employment at Duluth.
The manual training shops are extensive and well equipped courses are
oflFered in wood-working, wood-turning, pattern making, forge foundry,
sheet metal, machine wood-working, machine shop, printing, electricity,
mechanical drawing and automobile repairing. The Home Training
department ofifers courses in physiology and home nursing, textiles, house-
hold management, dressmaking, foods and cookery, household science
and millinery.
Pupils from Central High School who elect art, manual training or
home training come to this building for their work in these subjects.
Some of the outstanding features of the Junior High School are
departmental work, promotion by subjects, division of pupils into classes
of about equal ability and opportunity for shop and home training work.
Oscar B. Bjorge is chief engineer and secretary of the Clyde Iron
Works, one of the largest iron working plants in the Duluth district and
one of the largest firms in the covmtry manufacturing machinery for
lumbering and logging industries.
Mr. Bjorge was born at Underwood. Minnesota, January 5, 1886,
a son of H. P. and Janette Bjorge. His parents were both natives of
Norway and came to the United States in 1870. For many years they
had their home in Ottertail County, Minnesota, but in 1899 removed to
Duluth. In Ottertail County H. P. Bjorge was a farmer and merchant
at Underwood, but since coming to Duluth has become prominent in
state official affairs and has served as a member of the State Board of
Grain Appeals at Duluth. He was a member of the Legislature from
Ottertail County five terms, from 1885 to 1895.
Oscar B. Bjorge is the fourth in a family of eight children, five of
whom are still living. He attended the common schools at Underwood
until he was thirteen years of age, and in 1903 graduated from the
Duluth High School and then entered the University of Minnesota, where
he pursued a technical course and graduated with the Mechanical Engi-
neering degree in 1907. On coming out of university he was teacher of
mechanical drawing in the Mechanical Arts High School at St. Paul
from 1907 to 1909.
Since 1909 Mr. Bjorge has been connected with the Clyde Iron Works
of Duluth. and has filled the responsible post of chief engineer since
1912. He became a member of the Board of Directors in July. 1920. and
secretary of the company in January, 1921. He is a member of the
Engineers' Club, Curling Club, Boat Club, Kitchi Gammi Club, Ridge-
view Golf Club, president of the Duluth Rotary Club in 1921-2, a member
of Sigma Xi. Honorary Scientific Fraternity, Tau Beti Pi. Honorary
Engineering Fraternity and of the American Society of Mechanical Engi-
neers. He is also a member of the Commercial Club of Duluth, is
A'^rn^
TiLr
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1055
affiliated with Ionic Lodge No. 186, Accepted Free and Ancient Masons,
and is a member of the Unitarian Church and in poHtics is independent.
Mr. B Jorge was married in January, 1921, to Miss Ann Mary McCar-
thy, of Duluth, formerly of Marquette, Michigan.
Oliver O. Ormond began his career as a railway telegrapher, was a
railroad man when he first came to the Iron Range district, but for fifteen
years has been engaged in various grades of responsibility with some of
the large iron mining corporations and is now a superintendent of the
Hanna Mines at Buhl.
Mr. Ormond was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 18, 1881. His
father, Charles Ormond, was born in South Wales January 19, 1843,
and was eighteen years of age when he came to the United States in 1861.
The following year he showed his practical patriotism by enlisting. in the
Union army and fought for the preservation of the Union until the end
of the war. After the war he removed to Milwaukee and entered the
service of S. S. Merrill as contracting superintendent, and continued with
that well-known industrial operator for a number of years. He is now
seventy-seven years of age, is still active as a farmer, and is an example
of the rugged vitality of his race.
Oliver O. Ormond is the youngest of six children. He was only two
years of age when his mother died. She was also of Welsh birth and
ancestry. As a boy he lived in his father's home at Milwaukee, attended
the public schools in that city, but since fifteen years of age has been
launched on his independent career. He learned telegraphy and worked
as a telegraph operator and clerk, at first with the Chicago & Northwest-
ern Railway and later with the Great Northern. In the employ of the
Great Northern he came to the Range country in 1903, being first assigned
to duty at Buhl, then at Chisholm, Sandstone and Swan River. In 1905
he left the service of the Great Northern and became a locomotive fire-
man for the Wisconsin Steel Company at Agnew. He was successively
promoted to locomotive engineer, night foreman and then day foreman.
Since 1912 he has been in the employ of the M. A. Hanna Mining Com-
pany, beginning as day walking boss in charge of the Brunt Mine and
the Hanna A and B pits. In November, 1918, he was transferred to
Buhl as mining captain for the specific purpose of reopening the -Frantz
Mine. Soon afterward he was made superintendent of that mine, and
is now superintendent also of the Thorne Mine and is opening the
Wabigon Mine.
Mr. Ormond served as captain of his district for the promotion of
all the Liberty Loan drives during the war. He is a Republican in poli-
tics. On January 14, 1911, he married Miss Grace Murray, of Michigan.
She is of Scottish ancestry. They have one son, Oliver Preston Ormond.
Adam N. Schirmer by long experience and study has become a master
of that difficult branch of mechanical engineering known as plumbing,
and has built up a large business as a contractor in plumbing, heating,
furnace and ventilating work at Chisholm. Mr. Schirmer has been a
resident of Chisholm since 1912, and has been on the Iron Ranges for
twelve years.
He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 13, 1887, son of Adolph
and Elizabeth (Schueler) Schirmer. His father was born at Hanover
and his mother at Berlin, Germany, but they were married after they
came to this country. Adolph Schirmer for thirty-eight years was an
employe of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company in
the mechanical department at Cedar Rapids. He died in 1913 and his
widow is still living.
1056 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
One of four children, Adam N. Schirmer grew up in Cedar Rapids,
graduated from the high school with the class of 1904, and almost
immediately took up a mechanical trade. His father at that time was
the official valve setter for the Rock Island Railway, and the son served
his apprenticeship as a machinist under his father. He began at ninety
cents a day, later was put in charge of the air-brake department, still
later had his quarters at Estherville, Iowa, in the employ of the Rock
Island Company, and leaving railroading he went west to Phillip, South
Dakota, where he filed on a quarter section of land. He performed all
the duties necessary to prove up his claim and lived on it for fourteen
months. Part of that time he also worked at his trade at Pierre.
Mr. Schirmer came to Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1908, and the following
four years was in the service of his cousin, A. C. Schirmer, in the plumb-
ing business, and by practical work and study mastered every branch of
the business. Then, in 1912, he moved to Chisholm and started in a
limited way to build up a contracting business. To his father, who
implanted in his mind the principles of industry, honesty and frugality,
Mr. Schirmer attributes much of his success. Now his business has
assumed large proportions, involving the service of a score of men, and
his organization is usually called upon for all the high class work in
such public buildings as schools and libraries, besides many contracts for
installation of plumbing and heating appliances in stores and private
residences.
June 9, 1911, Mr. Schirmer married Miss Olive Bradstreet, of Inde-
pendence, Iowa. They have two children, Jack and Faye. Mr. Schirmer
is a Lutheran, is an independent voter in politics, and has a number of
interesting associations with the people and afifairs of northern Minne-
sota. He is a member of the Engineers' Club of Northern Minnesota, the
Commercial Clubs of Hibbing and Chisholm, the Kiwanis Club of Chis-
holm, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and is
a past exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge of Chisholm.
George H. Dormer for a quarter of a century has performed services
of increasing responsibility in connection with the Oliver Iron Mining
Company, is widely known over the Iron Range district in northern
Minnesota, and recently has been transferred to Buhl as superintendent
of the local mines of the Oliver Company.
Mr. Dormer was born at Lanark, Ontario. Canada, June 15, 1874, and
is of old American and Scotch ancestry. His father, John J. Dormer, was
born in New York state, was a moulder and machinist by trade, and for a
number of years was an electrical worker in mines. In 1872 John J.
Dormer married Margaret Herbert, who was born in Ontario, of Scotch
.ancestry.
The oldest of five children, George H. Dormer was four years of age
when his parents moved to Manitoba, and was nine when they estab-
lished another home in North Dakota. It was in North Dakota that he
spent most of his youth. He graduated from the Pembina High School
about 1892, and after acquiring some proficiency in shorthand as the
result of attending a business school in Minneapolis went to work for the
county attorney of Pembina, North Dakota, and was thus employed in
his office about two years. Then came another business course at the
Curtis Business College at Minneapolis, and then for about two years he
was bookkeeper and later cashier of a bank at Neihart, Montana. He was
doing well, had good prospects of advancement, and might probably have
ended by becoming a successful banker had not a spell of typhoid fever
interrupted his career in the far west. While convalescing he spent about
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1057
a year at home with his parents at Pembina, and on June 1, 1895, took his
first position with an iron mine as stenographer and bookkeeper for the
Minnesota Iron Company. He has been with some branch of the Oliver
Iron Mining Company continuously since that date. In 1905 he was
transferred to the Fayal Mine, was made cashier and chief clerk of the
Fayal, and in 1906 rose to the responsibilities of mine superintendent. He
remained at the Fayal for a dozen years, and in April, 1918, was trans-
ferred to Virginia, and in April, 1919, came to Buhl as superintendent of
the local mines.
Mr. Dormer was a member of the School Board at Eveleth for twelve
or fourteen years, and in different localities has endeavored to perform
his duties as a citizen. He is a member of the Engineers Club of North-
ern Minnesota, is a Republican, belongs to the Episcopal Church and is
affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Eveleth. In October, 1906, he mar-
ried Miss May Frezona, of Eveleth. She is of English ancestry. They
have three children: George G., born in 1909; Louise J., born in 1911;
and Richard J., born in 1919.
I
George N. Butchart, M. D. By reason of twenty-five years of resi-
dence and earnest and capable work, Doctor Butchart is dean of the
medical profession of Hibbing and one of the honored men of his voca-
tion in northern Minnesota.
Doctor Butchart was born on a farm in County Gray, Canada,
December 23, 1872, son of William and Agnes (Russell) Butchart. His
parents were also born in Canada, of Scotch ancestry. In 1876 the family
removed to the United States, where William Butchart bought an old
plantation in North Carolina. He remained in that section of the south
and operated the farm and plantation for ten years. He then returned to
Canada, where he and his wife spent their last days.
George N. Butchart was four years of age when taken to North
Carolina, and his boyhood was chiefly environed by the scenes and activi-
ties of an old southern cotton plantation. Later he lived in western
Canada, and in 1891 graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree from
Manitoba College. F'or a time he clerked in a drug store in Manitoba,
which was still on the western frontier, also owned a drug business in
that province, and during the winter of 1892 entered the Omaha Medical
College at Omaha, Nebraska, .and completed his course and graduated
in 1895.
In July of the same year' Doctor Butchart located in Hibbing, Minne-
sota, and almost continuously for twenty-five years has given his energies
and talents to his profession in that locality. For six years he was first
assistant in Rood Hospital. For about eighteen months Doctor Butchart
was engaged in medical contract work for a mining corporation in Mich-
igan, but then returned to Hibbing. He served as deputy county coroner
a number of years, for several years was village health officer, served one
year as a member of the Village Council and is a member of the County,
State and American Medical Associations, votes as a Republican and is
affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and the Order of Elks.
On May 12, 1895, 'Doctor Butchart married Miss Minnie Lockhart of
Manitoba. They have two children, Dana Lockhart and Gwenith Jean.
The son, Dana, graduated from Columbia Military Academy in Tennessee
in 1916, and in June, 1920, finished the work of the Junior College of
Hibbing, Minnesota. In the meantime he had enlisted for service in the
World war, and received his preliminary training in aviation at Toronto,
1058 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Canada, and was granted a second lieutenant's commission in the
Canadian Royal Air Service, and was made first lieutenant overseas. He
sailed for service abroad on his twentieth birthday, and was honorably
discharged after the signing of the armistice.
Leighton R. Simoxs. There is not a community in the country
which has not its veterans of the great war, young men who. having
rendered their country a service inspired by patriotism and the determina-
tion to protect it from foreign invasion, are now back home and prepared
to give just as efficient aid in conquering the foes to law and order and
the proper development of the natural resources as they were when in
uniform. These young men are making history, and their impress will be
on the generations to come. No man can pass through an experience like
theirs without coming back strengthened and broadened, provided, of
course, the natural tendencies were good. St. Louis County sent forth
the very flower of its young manhood, and fortunately for all concerned
only a few of the stars in its service flag turned to gold, the majority of
the soldiers having been returned in comparative safety. One of the
stalwart young veterans who has an honorable record of overseas service
is Leighton R. Simons, one of the rising young attorneys of Buhl.
Leighton R. Simons was born at Carlton, Minnesota, April 8. 1889, a
son of Edwin N. Simons, who was born November 24, 1859, at Sterling,
Pennsvlvania. He came west in 1880, locating at Thomson, ^linnesota,
at that time a saw mill town located twenty miles southwest of Duluth.
There he became engaged as a shingle contractor in the saw mills, and was
so occupied for a number of years at Thomson. Cloquet, Carlton and
West Duluth. He came to Virginia in 1905, and is now a filer employed
at the Virginia and Rainy Lake sawmill. The Simons family is of
Irish and German descent. Edwin N. Simons was married to Miss Mary
Owens April 15, 1886. She is of Welsh and Dutch parentage, and was
born March 31, 1867, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They became the
parents of four children, of whom Leighton R. is the second in order of
birth.
Leighton R. Simons attended the graded schools of Carlton and
Cloquet, Minnesota, and the high schools of Cloquet and Virginia, Minne-
sota, being graduated from the one at Virginia in 1906. For the subse-
quent year he was employed with his father in the mills, and then entered
the University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1911 with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Returning to Virginia, he spent a year
working in the city engineer's department of Virginia, and then entered
the law school of the University of Minnesota and was graduated there-
from in 1914 and was admitted to the bar of Minnesota that same year.
While at college he was interested in athletics, especially basket ball, and
he was also active in the literary and debating societies to which he
belonged.
Soon after securing his degree Mr. Simons entered the law office of
A. E. Templeton of Hibbing, Minnesota, and there spent three months,
but in the spring of 1915 came to Buhl and was associated in law practice
with A. R. Folsom, leaving him in September, 1915, to open an office of
his own. During 1919 he served Buhl as village attorney and was reap-
pointed to that office in 1920. He belongs to Chisholm Lodge No. 1334,
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Howard Bennett Post No.
214, American Legion. In politics he is an independent Republican, while
in religion he is a protestant.
On June 29, 1918, Mr. Simons was married to Miss Marian Aubrey,
of West Allis, Wisconsin, who is a member of an old American family.
They have one son, Robert A., who was born March 12, 1920.
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1059
Mr. Simons enlisted for service during the World war, and was
enrolled in the Second Officers Camp at Fort Sheridan. Before he had
completed his training, however, his draft number was called, and he was
drafted and sent to Fort Winfield Scott, San Francisco, California, Sec-
ond Provisional Regiment of Coast Artillery. On March 29, 1918, he
was transferred to the Fourth Officers Training Camp, Coast Artillery,
Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He was commissioned a second lieutenant
of Coast Artillery, and July 18 went overseas as a casual, landing in
France. Immediately thereafter he was ordered to Mailly, headquarters
of the American Expeditionary Forces, and not long thereafter was sent
to southern France to school. Returned to Mailly. he was assigned to the
Forty-second Railroad Artillery, which was stationed about twenty-five
miles back from the front, and here he remained until the armistice was
signed. He was sent home, and arrived in the United States February 22,
1919, and was discharged March 11, following.
E. K. CoE. city engineer, has given his professional time and services
to Duluth and environs for nearly thirty years. He is one of the promi-
nent men in his profession in the northwest, and for nearly two years Was
an officer on duty with the American Army both in this country and
abroad. !
Major Coe was born Aprfl 20. 1868. at Sterling, Illinois, a son of the
late M. L. Coe, who was a native of New York. E. K. Coe is one of five
children and received his early education in the public schools of Sterling.
He acquired his degree in civil engineering after a course in Cornell
College. Iowa. As a young man he was a civil engineer with the Chicago
& Northwestern Railway for one year. He came to Duluth in 1891 and
was at different times associated with the D. M. & N. Railroad, the D. & I.
Railroad and also did engineering work for the city and county govern-
ment. He has made surveys and supervised some of the important con-
struction undertakings around the Duluth Harbor. Following that he
was appointed and served as city engineer two years.
Major Coe was the first commissioned officer called from Duluth at
the beginning of the World war. As an officer he built Camp Lee in
Virginia. In November, 1917, he went overseas to France and there was
engineer in charge of the construction of a line of hospitals. In the early
fall of 1918 he went to front line duty at the headquarters of the first
American Army and had a part in the great battle of the Argonne. After
the armistice he received home orders and returned to America early in
1919. Mr. Coe is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a Repub-
lican in politics. In 1891 he married Miss Emma Witmer, of Illinois.
They have five children : Douglas W., a lieutenant in the United States
Navy ; Mrs. M. C. Merritt ; Edward Harold, late lieutenant of engmeers,
U. S. R. ; Ruth, and Eveleth.
Carl Erich Wickman. ■ Appropriately here is given a brief indi-
vidual sketch of the vice president and manager and one of the founders
and upbuilders of the Mesaba Transportation Company at Hibbing, an
organization whose growth and the development of its facilities for an
extensive transportation service covering a large part of the Iron Range
district are made the subject of a special historical review published
elsewhere in this work.
Carl Erich Wickman is still a young man but is well qualified for his
important business responsibilities through an experience that has brought
him step by step from the ranks of mechanical labor to executive duties
of a high order.
Vol. Ill — 9
1060 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Mr. Wickman was born in Sweden, August 7, 1887, where his parents,
Carl Victor and Anna (Martis) Wickman, are still living. There his
boyhood was spent, with an education in the common schools, and at the
age of seventeen he came to the United States. The first year he was in
America he was employed in a sawmill in Arizona. With the exception
of that first year his American career has been identified with Hibbing.
For about six years he worked on a diamond drill under that distinguished
Hibbing engineer, A. P. Silliman. Then with a modest capital and a
knowledge of mechanics in general he opened a tire repair shop at
Hibbing and continued it for about a year, until he sold, and with other
associates started the modest service with a single bus from which has
developed the extensive facilities of the present Mesaba Transportation
Company.
Mr. Wickman married. August 22, 1916, Miss Olga Rodin. Mrs.
Wickman is a native of Hibbing. They have one son, Robert. In politics
Mr. Wickman is aligned with the Republican party, is a member of the
Swedish Lutheran Church, and is a prominent Mason, having attained
the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite, is a member of the Mystic
Shrine, and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
WiLLi.-wi L. Murphy, an ex-service man who was with an organiza-
tion of engineers in France, has been in the Iron Range district and con-
nected with the industrial activities of the Range country for over ten
years and is one of the best known citizens of St. Louis county.
He was born at Chippewa Falls in Chippewa county, Wisconsin, July
3. 1889. His father. Angus Murphy, who was born in Canada, October
15, 1848, came to the United States in 1880, and subsequently naturalized
as a citizen. His occupation was that of a woodsman, and he was a fore-
man for various lumber organizations in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and
continued this line of work practically until his death, October 3, 1910.
He married Margaret M. Gratten, who was born at Quebec, Canada,
June 25, 1863. W'illiam L. is the sixth in a family of ten children, seven
of whom are still living.
William L. Murphy attended school at Chippewa Falls, where he was
born, graduated from high school in 1907, and in the same year arrived
at Hibbing, Minnesota. The first work he did here was as machinist's
helper on locomotive repairs with the Oliver Iron Mining Company. A
year later he entered the service of the prominent contracting firm of
Drake & Stratton as shovel fireman, a year later was promoted to crane-
man, and remained with Drake & Stratton in that capacity three years
and another year as craneman with the Shenango Furnace Company and
subsequently two years as steam shovel engineer. In June, 1915, he
entered business for himself as a member of the firm of Cawley & Murphy,
in the dray and transfer business at Chisholm. The following year they
began dealing in fuel and the business steadily prospered until Mr. Mur-
phy sold his interest to his partner in 1918 in order that he might go
into the army.
His service with the colors began July 8, 1918. He was sent to
Camp Dix, New Jersay, attached for training to the One Hundred and
Forty-fourth Engineers, and a month later was transferred to the
Seventy-second Engineers, Company B, at Camp Humphreys, Virginia.
While there he was made duty sergeant and on October 11, 1918, was
with a contingent that sailed overseas, reaching Brest the 20th of Octo-
ber. For one week they remained at that seaport and were then sent to
Angiers, the headquarters of engineers in France. Later Mr. Murphy
was sent on detached duty to St. Nazaire and put in charge of a steam
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1061
shovel during construction of a camp ground, and continued that line of
service for seven and a half' months after the close of the war. On July
], 1919, he embarked for the United States, reaching New York July
12th, and was mustered out of service July 25th at Camp Grant, Illinois.
On returning to northern Minnesota Mr. Murphy resumed his con-
nection with civil life at Hibbing with the firm of Ryan Brothers, selling
automobiles and tractors. In 1920 he was nominated for the office of
county commissioner of St. Louis County. On December 1, 1920, he
entered the transportation business, which is conducted under the name
of the Chisholm Transportation Company, with offices in Chisholm.
Mr. Murphy is an independent Democrat in politics. He served as
village trustee of Chisholm in 1918. He is affiliated with Chisholm Lodge
No. 1334 of the Elks, with Hibbing Council No. 1649, Knights of Colum-
bus, Chisholm Council No. 1, Order of Owls, and is a member of Post
No. 247 of the American Legion. He and his wife are members of
St. Joseph's Catholic Church. October 29, 1919, Mr. Murphy married
Miss Mary M. Mahon, of New York city.
Alger R. Syme. It is doubtful if any other profession has con-
tributed so many really efficient and competent men to the country as
that of the law, and it is certainly true that its members measure up to
the very highest standards of Americanism. In every community the
attorneys-at-law are always found in the foremost ranks of the men of
afifairs, and through them and their public-spirited enterprise are improve-
ments promulgated and carried out to a successful completion. One of
these men who has not only made himself a well-known figure in the
public afifairs of St. Louis County, but also attained to distinction in his
profession, is Alger R. Syme, one of the successful lawyers of Chisholm.
Alger R. Syme was born in Ontario, Canada, October 15, 1888, a
son of James H. and Emma E. (Hillier) Syme, and comes of Scotch-
English ancestry. James H. Syme was born at Dunville, Canada, June
12, 1859, and became a patternmaker and is still working at his trade.
His wife was born July 25, 1865, and is still living. They were married
at Windsor, Ontario, Canada, July 21, 1886, and became the parents of
four children, of whom Alger R. is the eldest.
The family came to the United States, and Alger R. Syme received a
grade-school training and then took the high school course at Bufifalo,
New York, from which he was graduated in 1908. For the next six
months he was in the law office of Charles Newton of that city. In
order to earn the money necessary to continue his legal studies Mr. Syme
left Bufifalo in 1909 and came to Chisholm, Minnesota, and became office
clerk for the Oliver Mining Company, and continued as such until in
October, 1910, he entered the University of Michigan and took the legal
course, and at the same time did some special work in the academic
department. He was graduated in 1913, and admitted to the Michigan
bar that same year. Returning to Chisholm, he was admitted to the bar
of Minnesota in February, 1914. The first few months thereafter he
was with the law firm of Woods & Knapp. and then, June 1. 1914, he
opened an office of his own. During 1914-1915, 1917-1918, 1918-1919
and 1920-1921 he has been attorney for the Independent School District
No. 40, and is the present incumbent. In politics he is an independent
Republican. A Mason, he maintains membership in Hematite Lodge
No. 274, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Syme also belongs
to Chisholm Lodge No. 179, Knights of Pythias ; Chisholm Lodge No.
1334, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Order of the Eastern
Star and the Kiwanis Club. The Methodist Episcopal Church holds his
1062 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
membership and his hearty support. During the late war he had charge
of the collections for the last Liberty Loan drives and was also chair-
man of the committee for civilian relief of the Red Cross, chairman of
the local War Savings Committee, a member of the Home Guard, and
in every way assisted in the local war activities.
On June 17. 1916. Mr. Syme was married to Miss Helen J. Croman,
of Mount Clemens. Michigan, who comes from an old Revolutionary
family. She received her grade and high-school education at Mount
Clemens, following which she took a two years' course at the Bradley
Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, Illinois, from which she received the
degree of Bachelor of Literature. In 1914 she was graduated from the
University of Michigan with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and subse-
quently taught school, being instructor of Latin and German at the
Howard City. Michigan, High School. Mrs. Syme is a member of the
Iota Chapter of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and the Eastern Star.
Mr. and Mrs. Syme have three children, namely: Alger R., who was
bom August 2. 1918; James J., who was born May 5, 1920: and Jean
Croman, born July 1, 1921. Both Mr. and Mrs. Syme are highly edu-
cated and cultured young people, and they have gathered about them a
congenial circle of friends with whom they are deservedly popular. They
are both much interested in civic matters and zealous in promoting the
welfare of their home city.
'Frank J. Demel, Sr., and his family of able sons and daughters have
for a number of years borne a prominent part in the affairs of the vil-
lage of Buhl. Mr. Demel himself has been in business in the village, has
also participated in public affairs and is now serving as inspector of
meters.
He was born in Bohemia July 12, 1861. son of Frank J. and Mary E.
CKeasler) Demel. His father was a weaver by trade. Frank J. Demel,
Sr., acquired a common school education in his native land, and in
August, 1881, at the age of twenty, accompanied his mother and two,
younger brothers to the United States. His mother spent the rest of
her days in this country and died in 1914, at the age of seventy-four.
The family first lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Frank J. Demel
worked in a furniture factory five years, and then took up the trade of
barber and was so employed another five years. In 1892 he removed
to Chicago and for thirteen consecutive years was a barber in one shop
in that city. In 1904 he came to Buhl, not long after the mines were
opened in this district, and for the first year conducted a barber shop.
He then went to work for the Interstate Iron Company as operator of
a "clam shell' which the company was trying out. After a year and a
'half the experiment was abandoned, but Mr. Demel continued in the
service of the company as fireman of a boiler for three years. About
that time he was elected recorder of the village, and was re-elected and
since leaving that office has been meter inspector for the \\'ater and
Light Board.
Mr. Demel is a past dictator of Council No. 1071 of the Loyal Order
of Moose and has twice been a delegate of the local branch to Moose
Heart, Illinois. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Catho-
lic Church and received complete naturalization as an American citizen
in Cook County, Illinois, in 1891.
In August. 1887. Mr. Demel married Miss Katherine Doherty. of
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and of Irish ancestry. Their children are
Mary E.. who is the present postmistress of Buhl : Katherine E., wife
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1063
of H. O. White, of Buhl; Frank J., Jr., Mertyle M. and Donald J.,
twins ; Francis, Leslie, Lorren L. and Russell.
Frank J. Demel, Jr., is one of Buhl's popular younger citizens, and a
man with an interesting army service record. He was born in Chicago
December 23, 1894, attended grade school in that city, and graduated
from the high school at Buhl in 1914. For the following two years he
conducted the local newspaper at Buhl and then was foreman for con-
crete contractors. On April 1, 1918, he enlisted for the aviation service
and was sent for training to the Pennsylvania State College. The avia-
tion service being overcrowded, by his express choice he was transferred
to the engineers, and for three months continued in training, studying
electrical engineering. Then for a short time he was in the American
University at Washington, District of Columbia, following which he was
sent to the Rifle Range at Camp Glenburney, Baltimore, Maryland. In
August, 1918, he went overseas, reaching Liverpool and after a week
was sent across the channel to Havre, and thence to a quiet sector on the
Alsace-Lorraine front. After some further training he was assigned to
duty in the Meuse-Argonne, when the American armies were achieving
such glorious successes in that sector, and he saw some of the fighting
when it was the fiercest. He remained in France and with the Army
of Occupation for some months after the armistice, and reached home
July 3, 1919. On March 15, 1920, he was elected village recorder, and
is still serving in that office at Buhl.
Francis E. House has been a resident of Duluth over twenty years
and is president of the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad Company. Under
the Federal administration of the railroads he was manager of the Duluth,
Missabe & Northern Railroad and of the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad.
Mr. House came to his position as a railroad executive after many years
of hard work in subordinate positions, beginning as a civil engineer, and
assisting in the construction of some of the pioneer lines of railroad in
the west.
He was born November 15, 1855, at Houseville, Lewis County, New
York, son of Henry A. and Mary E. (Goflf) House. His father, a native
of New York state, had a common school education and was a business
man of high abilities. For many years he was an active figure in bank-
ing and insurance circles. As a Republican he was interested in national
and local politics, though he never consented to hold office. He was a
member of the Episcopal Church, was a Knight Templar Mason, and at
one time was a state officer in the New York Knight Templars.
The oldest in a family of four boys, Francis E. House w^as educated
in the common schools, in a preparatory school at Rochester, and studied
engineering and chemistry, though he never graduated, at the Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York. Leaving the Institute at the
age of twenty-two. his first experience was in assaying and mining engi-
neering work in Nevada. His work as a railroad man began in 1880, in
M'hich year he was with a surveying party for the Chicago. Milwaukee
& St. Paul, and did engineering work for other lines of railroads until
1883. In that year he became division roadmaster in the track depart-
ment of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, in 1887 was promoted to
general roadmaster. and in 1890 was made trainmaster on the Kansas
City Division.
Mr. House left this western road in 1891 and returned east, on con-
struction work with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and in 1892
was made engineer, maintenance of way, for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie
Railroad and became chief engineer in 1894. Mr. House was made chief
1064 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
engineer of the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad in 1896, and became gen-
eral superintendent in 1897 and general manager in 1901. In the latter
year he took up his residence and duties at Duluth as president of the
Duluth & Iron Range Railroad Company, and during the Federal regime
was Federal manager of that road and also the Duluth, Missabe & North-
ern Railroad.
In his quiet and efficient way Mr. House has participated in several
community projects at Duluth. For about sixteen years he has been
identified with the local Young Men's Christian Association as an official,
most of the time as vice president and member of the Board of Directors
and has been influential in the various campaigns to raise funds and secur-
ing adequate building accommodations. He has been an elder of the
Presbyterian Church since about 1900, is a Republican in politics, and
a member of the Kitchi Gammi Club, Commercial Club, Northland
Country Club and Kitchinadji Club.
Air. House has an interesting family, all three of his sons having
been with the colors during the World v.-ar. He married July 30, 1880,
Miss Minnie Mccracken, of a Pennsylvania family. Six children were
born to their union and the four living are Henry Arthur, Allan Curtis,
Francis E., Jr., and Dorothy. Henry Arthur finished his course in min-
ing engineering at Columbia University, has had some experience in prac-
tical mining and in a small way has been associated with his father in
a western ranch. He served as captain of infantry during the World
war, was overseas, and has received his honorable discharge. The second
son, Allan Curtis, who was on overseas duty as a captain of artillery,
is now engaged in commercial business at Cleveland, Ohio. The young-
est son, Francis E., Jr., now in the advertising business at Cleveland,
was also abroad with the Expeditionary Forces as a first lieutenant in
artillery.
William G. Brown has lived on the Iron Ranges of northern Minne-
sota for more than thirty-six years, nearly all his life, and his work and
experiences have identified him with many of the phases of mining
operations in this district. For a number of years he has been in the
service of the prominent organization of mine owners, Pickands, Mather
& Company of Cleveland, and is now superintendent of the Albany Mine
owned by this corporation in the Hibbing District.
Mr. Brown was born at Quinnesec, Michigan, October 1, 1881. His
father, John C. Brown, was connected with the Quinnesec Mine on the
Menominee Range in Michigan. John C. Brown married Flora St. Marie,
of French ancestry, and in 1884 the family removed to Tower on the
Vermillion Range in northern Minnesota.
William G. Brown was three years of age when the family came to
northern Minnesota, and he grew up in the Soudan community, was edu-
cated there, and as a boy began working in the mines. Later, in order
to supply the deficiencies of his early education, he attended Highland
Park College of Des Moines, Iowa, for one year. After leaving college
he returned and became shipping clerk in the Soudan Mine, also worked
on the Diamond Drill for a time, and in 1899 transferred to the Mesaba
Range, and served as timekeeper of the Genoa Mine at Sparta. In 1901
he became bookkeeper for Pickands, Mather & Comjiany in the Elba
Mine near McKinley. He was soon promoted to chief clerk in the local
offices of Pickands, Mather & Company, and in 1903 was transferred
with these duties to Hibbing, where he continued as chief clerk until
January 1, 1918. Since then Mr. Brown has had the important responsi-
bilities of superintendent of the Albany Mine.
'-—.-_
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1065
He has always been willing to devote his time and energies to the
welfare of his locality. In 1919 he became treasurer of Stuntz township,
filling that office two years, and in 1919 was elected supervisor of the
town of Stuntz for a term of three years. He is a Republican, a mem-
ber of the Engineers' Club of Northern Minnesota, the Kiwanis Club of
Hibbing, the Commercial Club, and is affiliated with the Elks and the
Knights of Columbus and is a member of the Catholic Church.
April 24, 1905, he married Miss Rosana Viger, of Eveleth, Minne-
sota. They have three children : Aileen Orville, Hamilton Paul and
Virgil Bernardine.
Thomas J. Walsh was one of the makers of history in the develop-
ment of the iron ore district of northern Minnesota. For nearly forty
years he has been a prominent citizen and business man of Duluth, and
is a man of achievement who began life with little education and in a
routine of humble duties.
He was born near Toronto, Canada, October 4, 1867, son of Patrick
W. and Ellen (Fanning) Walsh. His father came from County Tipper-
ary, Ireland, and spent nearly his entire life on a farm near Toronto,
where he died in 1913. He was a cousin of the late Thomas F. Walsh,
one of America's famous and wealthy mine owners. The maternal
grandmother of Thomas J. Walsh was born in Ireland and lived to the
remarkable age of a hundred and fourteen years, having spent a hundred
and eight years in one town in Canada.
Thomas J. Walsh, the only survivor of a family of five children,
attended school in Canada to the age of eleven, and in 1880, at the age
of thirteen, came to the United States and found his first employment
as an engine wiper in the shops of the Lansing & Northern Railroad at
Jackson, Michigan. He also packed shingles in a shingle mill, and by
the hardest kind of work and by association with men of all classes he
developed that ready resourcefulness which has been his chief asset in
his mature career. One factor, no doubt, that has contributed to his
success has been his strictly temperate habits. For many years he lived
in surroundings and among men who regarded drinking and other forms
of dissipation as primary social obligations.
Mr. Walsh came to Duluth in 1882, and in June of that year with
two companions was sent out by G. C. Stone & Company over an Indian
trail to explore the Vermillion Lake country. They reached the present
site of Tower five days later, and there did the first development work
on iron ore in the state of Minnesota. The site subsequently became
famous as the Soudan Mine, the oldest iron property in the state.
Mr. Walsh in those early years performed some of the hard physical
labor and endured the hardships of prospecting, and rapidly picked up
a practical knowledge as a miner. Eventually he used a limited capital
of twelve hundred dollars, supplied by himself and one or two asso-
ciates, in developing a timber and iron ore property, and later sold out
for eight thousand dollars, that being the first of his many business
triumphs. Eventually he acquired about seven thousand acres in the
Vermillion district under his individual control, and some of his more
important connections in recent years have been as president and treas-
urer of the North American Iron Mining Company, the Minnesota Steel
& Iron Company, the Consolidated Vermillion & Extension Company, vice
president of the Great Northern Land Company and treasurer of the
Duluth Clay Products Company. One of the iron ore mines which he
was instrumental in developing was sold September 25, 1919, for seven
hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
1066 DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Through all these years Mr. Walsh has been one of the public-spirited
citizens of Duluth. During 1892-93 he served as private secretary to the
mayor of the city. His greatest enthusiasm, however, has been his work,
and while he never had the bei>efit of a college or technical education,
he knows all the fundamentals of economic geology, and has made many
investigations of human antiquities of the north, having acquired one of
the finest collections in existence of specimens of the stone and copper
age and also a large collection of Indian relics.
In 1900, at Tower, Minnesota, Mr. Walsh married Miss Margaret
S. Sullivan, daughter of Henry and Lizzie Sullivan, natives of Michigan.
Her father was a miningr man. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh have three chil-
dren: Margaret Ellen, Frances M. and Edna.
Frank L. Johnson. W hile his business headquarters as a carpenter
and building contractor for nearly forty years have been in Duluth,
Frank L. Johnson is head of the firm Frank L. Johnson & Son. whose
operations have covered a wide field in the northwest, and have involved
many large building contracts of all kinds.
Mr. Johnson is a master of building detail and learned his business
from the standpoint of a carpenter. He was born in Sweden August 5,
1856, was reared and educated and learned his trade in his native land
and was twenty-three years of age when in 1879 he came alone to
America. For a time he found employment in St. Paul, also worked
for a short time in Denver. Colorado, spent one winter in New Mexico
and then after visiting Pueblo, Colorado, returned to St. Paul and in 1881
came to the city of Duluth, then a town of hardly more than two thou-
sand inhabitants. He at once threw himself into the building resources
of the community, but for eight years continued as a journeyman car-
penter. During that time he was employed on the old courthouse build-
ing. Probably no other man now living has a better knowledge of building
history in Duluth than Mr. Johnson. For twenty-nine years he con-
tinued as a carpenter and contractor either for others or independently,
and then took in his son and since then the firm has been Frank L. John-
son & Son. Their operations have grown and expanded until they cover
a large part of the northwestern country and Canada. Some of the lead-
ing residences of the Zenith City have been constructed by this firm.
Other buildings erected by them are the . Cathedral High School, the
Waldorf Flat and Apartment Building, the Cook & Dillman Building
between Second and Third avenues on Superior street, to mention only
a few of the more notable. They were employed by the Renville Brothers
of Canada to handle some extensive Government contracts in the Province
of Saskatchewan. They were contractors in the erection of college
buildings at Prince Albert, a contract requiring two years to complete.
Mr. A. C. Johnson is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, votes as a Republican, and is a member of the Swedish Lutheran
Church. Mr. F. L. Johnson has five children: Minnie, A. C, E. H., Ruth
and Esther. Both sons were in the World war. A. C, born February
19, 1887, was with Dental Unit No. 2 at Camp Grant. E. H. saw front
line duty in France, was twice wounded, and after the war was returned
to this country and came out of the service from a hospital in St. Paul.
Mathew O. Hall. Although financial independence is almost uni-
versally desired, there are many young men who seemingly make little
efifort to secure it when it means protracted industry and considerable
self denial. Had Mathew O. Hall, a well known and popular young busi-
ness man of Buhl, Minnesota, been one of that type, it is quite probable
DULUTH AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY 1067
that he would not be. as at present, at the head of a large business enter-
prise as proprietor of the Buhl Motor Company.
Mathew O. Hall was born August 30, 1890, at Minneapolis, Minne-
sota, the only child of Olaf O. and Hattie (Erickson) Hall. Olaf O. Hall
was born in Norway in 1862 and resided in his native land until twenty-
two years ago, when he came to the United States, of which he is now a
citizen. In 1888 he was married to Hattie Erickson, who is of Swedish
parentage and was born in 1870, at Grandy, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs.
Hall live at Cambridge, Minnesota, where Mr. Hall is a carpenter and
contractor.
Until sixteen years of age Mathew O. Hall attended the public schools
at Cambridge, in the meanwhile picking up some trade knowledge in his
father's shop, but not enough to qualify as a carpenter. His inclination,
however, has always been in the line of mechanics. After working in a
hardware store for three years he entered the employ of John Norin, who
owned a garage at Cambridge, and during the three years he was with
him learned practical details of automobile management and repair.
Mr. Hall then acquired an automobile of his own and operated it for hire
and at the same time did repair work in a small way for the next two
years, putting up with a great deal of personal inconvenience in order to
get ahead. He then went to Hibbing and worked for six months as a
mechanic in the garage of Christ Osdick, who then sold out to Claud
Brackett, and the latter was very glad to have so careful an expert
mechanic as Mr. Hall had become to remain with him for the next six
months as manager.
In 1915 T. P. Cory, a capitalist, suggested to Mr. Hall that he come to
Buhl and open a garage, or, at first, a reliable automobile repair shop,
promising financial assistance if it became necessary. For six months
Mr. Hall did not feel that he was making much headway, but he perse-
vered and began to also handle automobile supplies of standard quality,
filled a pressing need in this direction, and at length found himself pros-
pering. He now conducts a rapidly increasing business, conducts his
garage under the name of the Buhl Motor Company, handles a full line
of accessories, and has a first class repair shop. His honest work and
general courtesy have brought him patronage and many friends.
Mr. Hall was married December 28. 1918, to Miss Clara Oberg
Anderson, who was born at Negaimee, Michigan, and is of Swedish
parentage. Mr. and Mrs
